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Grandfather:
Ryomou Masaru
(Victorious - 勝)

Father:
Ryomou Akihiko
(Bright Prince - 明彦)

Mother:
Saionji Reiko
(West Garden Temple - 西園寺)
(Lovely Child - 麗子)

First Born:
Ryomou Koumei
(Fairness or Impartiality - 公明)
Eclipse

Second Born:
Ryomou Hiroshi
(Tolerant - 寛)
Toutoi

Third Born:
Ryomou Junichi
(Obediant One - 順一)
Ken

Fourth Born:
Ryomou Saionji
(West Garden Temple - 西園寺)
Shijin / Ginyuushijin

Adopted Daughter:
Ryomou Daiyu
(Black Jade - 岱輿)









The Ryomou Line is an ancient clan that dates back before recorded history, yet can be found (as many believe) in China's recorded history as far back as 178.
Ryomou however, is a translation of the Chinese Word, Lü Meng (呂蒙) and so it is believed that the Ryomou line is actually descended from China and not Japan, and that the Lü Meng (178 - 219) of the Chinese, Three Kingdoms period, is to be an ancestor of this same line.
However it truly played out, the name became a strong one, be it Ryomou or Lü Meng, in both Japan and China.
Thus, this powerful demon clan eventually merged with a powerful Japanese clan, to create the Ryomou line as it is known today.
They grew in power through the years, allying themselves closely with the clans who ruled Japan by giving them power and might.

The only recorded first father of this demon bloodline, Ryomou Masaru, was said to have won a great Heavenly war.
It was written in the Annuals of Heaven that "Ryomou came from the darkness which surrounded the country, and into darkness he plunged it.", so this can be seen to mean that Ryomou Masaru decided to make Japan the home of his clan, and began the Heavenly takeover which would cement his clan's power for eternity.
His only son, Ryomou Akihiko, became the Ouji of the Ryomou when Ryomou Masaru declared himself Ou of his conquered demon clan and of those demons subsequently conquered in Japan.
As such, hundreds of thousands of demons were at Ryomou Masaru's beck and call, and he waged war on Enma Daiou; the Lord of Meifu.
This war lasted for centuries, and is believed to have begun as far back as 450 (lasting from the mid-Kofun Period up until almost the end of the Heian period), until Ryomou Masaru was eventually defeated in the year 1050 (a 600 year war).
With Ryomou Masaru imprisoned in the dungeons of Enma Daiou, a treaty was signed by Ryomou Akihiko and the Lord of Meifu.
Ryomou Akihiko was to control the demons of Japan, gathering those who would upset the balance of power and doing away with them, while helping to retain stability.
This treaty, which became known as the "Fealty of Ryomou", forbade Ryomou Akihiko from seeking out his father's dungeon, or from rising against Enma Daiou again, least his entire clan be obliterated.
Ryomou Akihiko abided by this treaty, gathering demons of all manners and uniting them under his banner.

In 1130, during the Heian period, the daughter of Saionji Michiuse, Saionji Reiko, married the new leader of the Ryomou family; Ryomou Akihiko.
Together, they produced four sons; Ryomou Koumei, Ryomou Hiroshi, Ryomou Junichi, and Ryomou Saionji (who was named after his mother's family name).
Because of the marriage of Saionji Reiko to Ryomou Akihiko, the Ryomou family has enjoyed the benefits of the Saionji line; a line which has a played crucial role in the Japanese government (including the Meiji Restoration) since 1090, and still remains a strong name to this day.
The Saionji clan however, held a secret.
They were not demons as the Ryomou clan, but the secret was in that the women of the clan were born as Children of the Night; Kyuuketsuki... Vampires.
So it was that the children of Ryomou Akihiko and Saionji Reiko, were born, not as vampires, but a mixture of demon and human, due to their male genders.
However, not much is known of Saionji Reiko, for she seems to have disappeared from known history shortly after the death of Ryomou Saionji...

In the year 1145, during the Heian period, Ryomou Koumei was born.
He was known to many as Eclipse (his name changed in order to avoid the eyes of his enemies) or Gesshoku (as he was known for most of his life), after his love of the moon and it's many phases (often a subject of his poetry).
As a child, Koumei was free spirited and open minded.
He was fair and impartial, as his name commands, but he was also a rather lonely child.
Koumei spent many long hours in study as he grew into adulthood, and eventually, at the age of 15, became a core member in the events of the Heiji Rebellion in 1160.
It was Koumei who aided Taira no Kiyomori in returning Emperor Nijou to the throne and Emperor Go-Shirakawa to the place of cloistered Emperor.
For his actions, he was given the title and power of a Jitou (a land steward), and this made Koumei a powerful player, not only in the circle of the Emperor, but with Taira no Kiyomori and his newly founded samurai government.
However, ten years later, Ryomou Koumei was murdered by none other than Ryomou Akihiko.
As it turned out, the power of the Ryomou clan did not reach it's full potential until the child (be they human or demon alone) reached the age of 25 (the demon age for maturity).
One night, when composing poetry beneath a cherry tree, Koumei found his throat slit from behind.
As he lay dying, Ryomou Akihiko's visage was forever locked into Koumei's mind.
The next morning, Ryomou Koumei awoke to find himself, not only immortal (forever stuck at the age of 25) and his demon power stronger than before... but endowed with the powers of the Kyuuketsuki.
So it was, that Ryomou Akihiko began Koumei's training to become the Ouji of the Ryomou line, to serve under the Ou, Akihiko himself.
After his "death" however, Koumei underwent a drastic personality change, and he no longer was able to place any trust in anyone.
Ryomou Koumei had various lovers (both male and female) throughout his existence, but none lasted long, and certainly not a soul remained with him after bedding the demonic vampire Ouji.
The murders of his lovers while in the throes of passion, went unnoticed by the governments of Japan, even though some of those which Koumei had bedded and destroyed, were prominent and sometimes very important members of society, nobility, or even court.
Koumei became a whispered fear, and yet due to his own special abilities... many found it hard to resist him.
This did not however, win Koumei loyalty, and he remained a lonely individual until Ryomou Saionji grew up, and after that, until Shidou Saki became his lover in 1996 (though they had known each other prior, their relationship had never been solidified).
Ryomou Koumei's passion however, was literature and politics, and he believed that to understand one, you must also understand the other.
This made him a very prominent figure for the Ryomou line, even though he has yet to produce an heir to the family name.
Unlike his younger brothers however, Koumei never gave his true name to another outside of the family.
At least, not until 1996, when, in order to keep himself alive and to prevent Shidou Saki from harm, Koumei bestowed his name upon Kain Wurui (once a prominent underling of Koumei's).

For the Ryomou line, to give one's True Name (their birth name) was to give all of their power and will to the name's holder.
In essence, if one had the True Name of a Ryomou family member, they would be as powerful as any Emperor.
Not only would this individual gain the specific powers of that Ryomou member, but that member's vampiric abilities and, in some cases, longevity.
To give a True Name is a sacred and precious act, a promise of loyalty and servitude, and can not be gotten forcefully.

In the year 1211, during the Kamakura period, Ryomou Hiroshi was born.
He was known to many as Toutoi (Noble), because of his noble aspirations which he put forth in many laws.
Unlike Koumei, Hiroshi was a patient child, and his tolerance (as he was so named for) won him many friends over the years.
Hiroshi too followed in Koumei's footsteps and began his studies at a young age.
Eventually, at the age of 21, Hiroshi helped to draft the Goseibai Shikimoku in 1232.
This law, suggested to Houjou Yasutoki himself by Hiroshi, stressed the duties of stewards and constables, provided means for settling land disputes, and established rules governing inheritances.
The law was clear and concise, stipulated punishments for violators of its conditions.
As such, Hiroshi was in the favor of the ruling class at the time.
However, like his elder brother, at the age of 25, Hiroshi too was murdered by Ryomou Akihiko in exactly the same manner (though at his desk, not beneath a cherry tree).
Ryomou Hiroshi woke as well the next morning to find his powers increased, himself immortal, and his Kyuuketsuki lineage.
Unlike Koumei however, Hiroshi, while popular and endowed with many friends, was not a lover of pleasure.
Hiroshi was focused on his governmental duties, having given his True Name to Yasutoki, and never took a lover, nor produced an heir.
It would later be joked that Hiroshi was incapable of performing in bed.

In the year 1550, during the end of the Sengoku period, Ryomou Junichi was born.
He was known to many as Ken (Sword) because of his skills with a blade, and began his training at an incredibly young age.
As a child, Junichi was deeply religious and followed his Buddhist beliefs more rigidly than most people of the time.
However, he fell into favor with Toyotomi Hideyoshi and became his most trusted personal close companion, and was one of the more prominent figures in the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
Junichi, as his name (Obediant One) would suggest, was loyal to Hideyoshi without a fault, and advised him on many matters during the battles to unify Japan.
However, just as his brothers before him, Junichi was murdered by Ryomou Akihiko while corresponding to a letter from Hideyoshi himself.
When he awoke, he had the same gifts as his siblings... but that did not shake his loyalty.
Junichi returned to Hideyoshi's side and in 1582, at the age of 32, was gifted with the task of exacting revenge for the death of Oda Nobunaga.
While history states that Nobunaga's murderer, Akechi Mitsuhide, was defeated by Hideyoshi at the Battle of Yamazaki and later killed by a peasant (named Nakamura) with a bamboo spear... the rumor of Mitsuhide's later life turned out to be the truth.
Mitsuhide went into hiding as a Buddhist priest by the name of Tenkai.
Junichi's "death" had changed his religious views and, as if to throw away the teachings of Buddhism... Junichi murdered Mitsuhide as the man prayed on the temple steps.
Junichi then returned to Hideyoshi was Mitsuhide's head.
After this, Junichi continued to serve Hideyoshi faithfully, having given him his True Name long ago, as he always had.
However, Junichi, as like his brother Hiroshi, never produced an heir...









In the year 1838, the same year as the birth of Ryomou Saionji, Ryomou Koumei found a golden opportunity... and murdered his father, Ryomou Akihiko.
Enraged over his own murder almost 700 years ago, Koumei had finally learned everything he could of his clan, his powers, and how to keep the clan alive throughout the changing times.
Seeing that Akihiko was no longer needed, and seeking to exact revenge for the murders of himself, Hiroshi, and Junichi, Koumei conspired with a line of spiritualists and healers; the Muraki line, and came up with a way to destroy Akihiko's body and soul forever.
The method was lost to history, and even the Muraki line allowed such knowledge to pass through their fingers, but this much was clear...
In 1838, Ryomou Koumei became the Ou of the Ryomou line, and the position of Ouji left vacant (due to Koumei's refusal to keep a lover alive long enough for an heir).

In that same year; 1838, of the Edo period, Ryomou Saionji was born.
He was known to many as Shijin (Poet), all due to his love of lyrical poetry, something which he acquired from Koumei.
Later, he was known as Ginyuushijin (Wandering Bard).
Named for his mother's side of the family, Saionji was beautiful to behold, and many thought him a woman throughout his life.
As a child, Saionji was incredibly close with his eldest brother, Koumei, who seemed to have been the one to raise him since Akihiko's demise.
However, Saionji grew up during the final years of the Bakumatsu, and this was reflected in many of his ideals.
He was gentle, loyal to his beliefs, and loved nature and all of its beauty, but his temper was rivaled only by the fierce western wind (reflecting, in many ways, his name).
Saionji secretly turned his back on the ways of the Shogunate, and of the Ryomou family who still upheld the ideals of Japan's current government.
In support of the Meiji efforts, Saionji's beauty was put to good use.
Planted in the most prominent brothels, Saionji carried and held himself as a woman, in order to exact secrets from the Shogunate officials that he was to service.
Of course when they found out he was a man, Saionji would either kill them, or relocate to another brothel, all the while revealing what he had learned to his Meiji companions.
When Ryomou Koumei learned of this, he was outraged; that Saionji would use his inherited powers to become nothing more than a whore infuriated Koumei (who had loved Saionji dearly since the boy's birth), and the two clashed on this matter many times during the Bakumatsu.
In 1863 however, Saionji came of age at 25.
When it became apparent that Saionji would not gain the immortal life, nor the heightened powers or vampiric instincts of his older brothers, Ryomou Koumei betrayed him.
This decision devastated Koumei for most of his life, since Saionji was the only person in the world whom Koumei trusted and loved (until, as earlier stated, Shidou Saki in 1996).
Coming to the brothel which Saionji was currently using as his cover, Koumei requested him personally.
Using a spell, Koumei, in the guise of another, slit Saionji's throat soon after getting the young man into bed.
As he lay dying, the spell on Koumei faded, and Saionji saw the true face of his murderer.
When Saionji awoke the next morning, he was in his own bed, within the Ryomou estate, now immortal and powerful like his brothers.
But Saionji never forgave Koumei for what he had done.
In an attempt to appease his beloved younger brother, for it was Saionji whom Koumei had hoped would become Ouji of the Ryomou line, Koumei turned the Ryomou family from the Shogunate (in accordance with the Emperor's own anti-western policies), and began to support the Meiji...
Four years later, the Bakumatsu ended with the destruction of the Tokugawa and the Meiji period began.
However, Saionji still could not forgive Koumei's deeds, nor the betrayal that he felt, and the gentle youth turned into a merciless cold, yet beautiful, killer.

In 1843, Saionji Reiko (now Ryomou Reiko), adopted a peasant baby that Saionji had stumbled upon, left on the side of the road.
The 5 year old Saionji, accompanied by Koumei, brought the baby girl home, and she was raised as Ryomou Daiyu and given the family name.
As it turned out, the child had been abandoned by her mother, a Chinese woman who had married a Japanese Rounin.
Daiyu grew up as a sister to the Ryomou family.
Reiko gave her the name of Daiyu, as a reflection, not only of her Chinese heritage, but of her Jade Black hair.
Hiroshi was her tutor, teaching her everything she needed to know about the world, her education, and politics.
Junichi was her sword instructor, having the girl learn martial arts as well as proper swordsmanship.
Koumei was a father figure to Daiyu, though perhaps sometimes more of an older brother than a strict father, and even he (who was usually cold to those around him) took a liking to Daiyu.
But Saionji... fell in love with Daiyu.
When Saionji was murdered by Koumei, the anger and betrayal that Saionji felt was directed... not because he himself had died... but because he knew Daiyu would one day die and that he was stuck being immortal.
Thus, not even a year after his "death", Saionji sought out the Muraki family, just as Koumei had, and used their arts to create means of keeping Daiyu eternally youthful.
However, this means was not in the form of a potion or some spell... but in the form of a small jeweled locket which he wore around his neck.
Thus, Ryomou Saionji wore a locket about his neck in order to grant Daiyu immortality.

The conditions of the locket were as such;
1.) The locket could never be taken off of the wearer's neck.
2.) The locket had to contain within it a powerful jewel (for siphoning), as well as a lock of that person's hair.
3.) The locket would siphon the immortality from the wearer and transfer it to the desired person.
4.) If the locket were removed or destroyed, the desired person would remain the age they were when the locket was removed, but their immortality would fail and they would begin to age at a normal pace.

In the year 1937 of the Shouwa period, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out.
Naturally, since the Ryomou family could trace it's line to China (some say), they were opposed to any war between China and Japan, and it was during this time that the Ryomou clan declined in favor with the Japanese government.
Ryomou Koumei gave orders not to fight the Chinese, and he personally would not tolerate any who did.
Fearing Koumei's nature and temper (and power) on the matter, Ryomou Hiroshi and Ryomou Junichi remained loyal to their elder brother, and kept the Ryomou family out of the war.
But Ryomou Saionji, wishing to oppose his brother, left the Ryomou family and fought against the Japanese... on the side of the Chinese.

Not much is known of the Ryomou family's activities until after the Second World War.
It was known that the Ryomou family stayed out of the conflict (some suggest this occurred because Koumei was grieving over the loss of Saionji to the Ryomou family, and refused to send any to fight in fear of harming Saionji), and after the occupation of Japan, began to rebuild their strength once more.
However, this had to be done differently than before, for no longer did the Emperor hold true power in Japan.
It took time for Ryomou Koumei to rebuild the family, and during this time, and the time of both previous wars, nothing was heard by the Ryomou family, of Ryomou Saionji.

In truth, Ryomou Saionji had been gravely injured on the battlefield of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and even his demonic power could do little to save him.
It was at this time that a herald of Enma Daiou-sama came to Ryomou Saionji and asked for his loyalty to Enma Daiou himself.
Saionji agreed, for he knew of the "Fealty of Ryomou", and from that point on, became Ginyuushijin, handing over his True Name to Enma Daiou alone.
Changing his appearance by dressing more like one from China, as well as dying his hair black, Saionji appeared as a new person.
He then disappeared from known history, but served in Meifu, directly under Enma Daiou, carrying out his every wish and command.

Also during this time, Ryomou Daiyu had accompanied Ryomou Saionji to China to support his efforts.
When Saionji did not return from the battlefield, Daiyu contacted the Ryomou family in Japan and asked for assistance.
Unable to go to her aid due to Japan's instability after the Second World War, Koumei sent Hiroshi in his place.
However, Hiroshi and Daiyu met with resistance from the CPC (Community Party of China) and eventually the fragile peace talks between the CPC and the KMT (Chinese Nationalist Party) broke down in 1946.
Hiroshi attempted to flee China with Daiyu, fearing that soon the CPC would control the mainland and close all of China's ports (this happened in 1949).
Before they could both successfully board one of the Ryomou family ships meant to take them back to Japan, a battle broke out at the port.
Hiroshi, having already boarded the vessel, was badly wounded; his body riddled with gunshots.
Injured, he was unable to return from the ship to the harbor itself and bring Daiyu along.
She attempted to flee to the ship upon seeing Hiroshi struck down, but she too was gunned down.
However, unlike Hiroshi, who was able to return to the Ryomou family in Japan and heal from his wounds, Daiyu's immortality faded and it was there that she died.

It was later realized that at this time, Ryomou Saionji, under the guise of Ginyuushijin, removed the locket which contained Daiyu's immortality... out of jealousy.
Enraged that Daiyu "loved" his older brother Hiroshi, and thinking that she had called him to China in Saionji's absence for companionship, Saionji cast the locket into the Sea of Japan.
With the locket gone, Daiyu's invulnerability was revoked, and the gunshoot wounds she sustained in China brought an end to her life.

It was not until the year 1991 of the Heisei period, that Ryomou Saionji appeared before his brothers again.
By this time, the Ryomou family had grown incredibly more wealthy than ever before, and it was during this period when many of the Ryomou mansions were built throughout Japan.
While vacationing in Kobe in the southern regions of Japan (near Kyoto), Ryomou Koumei, Ryomou Hiroshi, and Ryomou Junichi were all gathered.
This was the opportunity that Ginyuushijin (Ryomou Saionji) had been wishing for.
With leave from Enma Daiou to bring to justice the Ryomou family, Ginyuushijin returned to his brothers under his guise of Ryomou Saionji and begged for their forgiveness.
He was forgiven, and a grand banquet prepared to welcome Ryomou Saionji back into the family.
However, as much as Ryomou Koumei wanted to believe that his little brother had truly come back, he was skeptical.
Under the cover of night, Ryomou Koumei left the mansion on an errand.
When he returned, Ryomou Hiroshi and Ryomou Junichi were slain; the means of which were identical to that used by Ryomou Koumei when he murdered Ryomou Akihiko.
Knowing it was Saionji, Koumei called his brother out.
But there was never any answer.









In the years following the deaths of his brothers, Ryomou Koumei has become a reclusive Kyuuketsuki Lord who, while still enjoying the pleasures of the world, has found that he must watch carefully where he treads.
Koumei, under the name of Eclipse, has amassed a huge army, much like his grandfather Ryomou Masaru before him, and seems intent on keeping his status and power.
This, is something that Enma Daiou has feared since the rise of Ryomou Masaru, and his eventual imprisonment.
Because of this fear, Enma Daiou assigned an assistant to Ginyuushijin... Ryomou Daiyu herself.
The two were reunited, and even though Daiyu knew that it was Saionji who was responsible for her demise... she still remained with him; and he with her.

It is now 1996, and once more, under the orders of Enma Daiou... Ginyuushijin is tracking Ryomou Koumei (Eclipse) to every corner of Japan.
In the mean time, Daiyu has been ordered to oversee the actions of Enma Daiou's shinigami; the Lord of Meifu fearing that his shinigami may soon have to try and quell the legions under Eclipse's command.
Thus, Eclipse has been forced to move from mansion to mansion in order to avoid his brother's detection, until he can find a way to bring Ginyuushijin under his control.
The curse which Muraki Kazutaka (a descendant of the very man who aided Koumei in murdering Akihiko) cast upon Kurosaki Hisoka (a shinigami under the command of Enma Daiou), holds the key to the control that Eclipse seeks...
As Daiyu continues to do Enma Daiou's bidding (including assassinations), Ginyuushijin continues to hunt for his brother... and Eclipse continues to run...







Websites Used in Construction:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saionji_family
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuchi-Momoyama_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakumatsu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shōwa_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heisei_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War



Image Credits:

Art at the beginning is actually (from left to right) Koyuu, Lan (Ran), Ryuuki, and Seiran from the anime "Saiunkoku Monogatari".
A lot of things about Koumei... are things that I somewhat stole from Ryuuki's own personality and background.
It was "Saiunkoku Monogatari" that inspired actually writing this backstory (I was giving the show a second viewing... I love it so...).

2nd picture is actually (from left to right) Ryuuki, Seiran, Shuurei, Koyuu, and Lan (Ran) from the light novels of "Saiunkoku Monogatari".

3rd picture is actually (from left to right) Sho, Ryuuki, and Lan (Ran) from the light novels of "Saiunkoku Monogatari".

4th picture is actually (from left to right) Koyuu and Shuurei from the light novels of "Saiunkoku Monogatari".

5th picture is actually (from left to right) Ryuuki and Shuurei from the light novels of "Saiunkoku Monogatari".

6th picture is actually (from left to right) Seiran and Shuurei from the light novels of "Saiunkoku Monogatari".







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