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I'll give a more in-depth Author's Note on this next update because saying too much now will make this already short prologue completely irrelevant, but suffice to say that if you recognize the naming convention for this fic or the last two words here, you know exactly what to expect.
The creaks of the hinges as the door was opened were like fingers, choking the silence of the calm spring night. Seven shadowy figures shuffled thought the moonlit room, seeking out their seats around the singular table that sat in the middle of the small cabin. One of them produced a match from their robe and lit the candle in the middle of the table, illuminating the room and sending curls of smoke up into the air to collect in a sooty spot on the ceiling.
They were all men. Fathers, brothers, uncles, scarred warriors and bent old men. All wore the same solemn expression.
"Have you all had the proper time to consider the proposal?" The eldest among them spoke, his mouth almost completely obscured by his long white moustache and beard. The question was asked with the gravity of life and death. Nods and glances were exchanged around the table.
"My mind remains unchanged." A bald man and uncle spoke, arms folded across his chest. "I cannot accept this course of action."
"Sui-Feng is the greatest warrior our Clan has ever known and look at the condition she's in!" An older man spoke, his hair having begun to gray. His was the proposition they were there to deiced on. "...the rise of these hybrid Arrancar and Vizards, the Shihouins are in shambles...We must do this to remain relevant!"
"I have heard talks that the Shihouins have begun trying to reinstate Yoruichi as the head of the clan now that she has returned and cleared her name." Yet another spoke out.
"All the more reason why we must act now." The graying man stated firmly. "Now is our chance to rise above being a vassal clan and claim our one spot as a Great Nobel House."
"But at what cost?" The bald man asked. "Where will it stop? You only take the gravely wounded? Then stage a training accident. Call every wound mortal."
"You're paranoid." The graying man retorted, the low light creating deep shadows in the creases of is visibly annoyed face. "You fear change."
"I fear success." The bald man shot back. "If this plan is successful, then it will not stop with the infirm. I will not sacrifice my sons to this madness for the sake of relevancy. If you go through with this, I will renounce my Feng blood."
"That is enough." The elder halted the argument. "It shall be put to a vote. All of those in favor?" Four of the men raised their hands, with the man with graying hair's hand held the highest. "Opposed?" The remaining three raised their hands, the bald man thrusting his arm skyward forcefully.
"Then it is decided. The Feng house shall move forward with the Cyber Initiative."