Prologue: The Curtain is Raised....

The assault on the living world has been repulsed, and Aizen has gone into hiding, abandoning all but a few of his precious Espada to their fates. Furious at his betrayal, those that survived have defected, and now wander Hueco Mundo. That is not to say that Sereitei survived unscathed, although their strongest warriors are healing, slowly rebuilding and gaining new strength. The real world has had its own share of casualties, including a close friend of the Shinigami Substitute, Arisawa Tatsuki. The Substitute in question, Kurosaki Ichigo, has decided that he needs to play a greater role in Sereitei itself, and spends a great deal of his time there, supporting his comrade and close friend Kuchiki Rukia, leaving the defence of the real world to Yasutora Sado, Ishida Uryuu and Inoue Orihime.

With the temporary defeat of Aizen, some members of Sereitei have become complacent, believing themselves safe from the former captain's schemes. These groups have turned their focus away from self-defence, and begun plotting to gain some part of the power left vacant by Aizen's massacre of the Central 46. The elders of the Four Noble Families, led by the Kuchiki elders, have made a strong push for the reinstatement of the institution. This push was supported by the majority of the nobility, made nervous by their lack of power in regards to the running of Sereitei. One year after the defeat of Aizen, the Central 46 was reinstated. To all intents and purposes, it appeared to run as it had before, smoothly handing out edicts and laws. There are only a few in all of Sereitei who know that the Central 46 proceeds according to the wills of three shadowy figures.

Power was taken away from the Captain Commander, Shigekuni Yamamoto Genryusai, and handed back to the Central 46. They wasted no time in establishing their new-found authority, confirming or rejecting all decisions made since the Ryoka Incident. While most of the decisions made by the Central 46 were accepted as law by the Gotei 13, one was met with unanimous resistance. When the Central 46 announced its intention to banish and seal the powers of Kurosaki Ichigo, they were calmly informed by Kyouraku Shunsui, Ukitake Joushiro, Unohana Retsu, Hitsugaya Toushirou, Kuchiki Byakuya, and not so calmly by Zaraki Kenpachi, that to even attempt to do so would result in open insurrection on behalf of their respective squads. The figures in control of the Central 46 backed down, not so confident of their new found powers that they would risk confrontation with several of the most powerful beings in Sereitei.

Time passed, and Sereitei became rife with political manouvering, attention turning inwards and away from the external threat of Aizen Sousuke. Another year passes, and time marches on. Kurosaki Ichigo begins to find more excuses to travel to Sereitei, despite being in his last year of schooling. Many, Kuchiki Byakuya among them, suspect that a certain short, violet eyed shinigami is the reason behind this. Ichigo is reunited with his childhood friend, Arisawa Tatsuki, who had entered the Soul Academy, and surprisingly retained many of her memories. Tatsuki is now the sixth seat of the 2nd squad, and under Soi Fon taicho's watchful eye has trained to become the equal of a lieutenant in power.

The forces of the real world, Kurosaki's friends Uryuu, Sado and Orihime, have not become lax in their duties as protectors of Karakura Town. Their power grows daily, and has drawn the attention of Sereitei, wary of another group of powerful individuals not under their control. But, wary of the reaction last time they attempted to interfere with one of those labeled as a 'Ryoka Hero', the Central 46 has opted to observe for the time being.

So stands the situation in Heaven and Earth. Reports from the world of Hueco Mundo are disjointed, fuzzy, leaving those receiving them to guess at what might be coming over the horizon, even as they contemplate it. This is the story of the third blade, and thus is it brought down.

So? What'd you guys all think? Tried to go for the whole 'epic scale' on this one, being all formal with the language and stuff. Review, tell me if you like the idea. If you want to know a bit more about the possible storyline, give us a yell and i'll explain, so long as it doesnt ruin any surprises. I'm also open to anyone who can help me with the Japanese spelling. All I'll say here is that if you like Vaizards, you should like this story. So long as I don't muck it up. Alright. Catchya later.