Title: The Fool

Author: Kyatsuki Ora

Notes: Probably the longest first-chapter I have written in life. I'm doing this on a whim and a friend's badgering. I do not own Bleach.

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The Fool - numbered 0 in the Major Arcana deck, it represent the search expriences and shows the ultimate form of trust; often interpreted as the protagonist of the story, confronting one's fears, taking risks to achieve what he or she wants

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The wooden shoes' clacking sounds reverberated in the empty hall, making Ryu feeling the events of the last few weeks more acutely. The sudden betrayal from Aizen has left a permanent scar in Seirei-tei. Even now, there were reminders from the horrible battles that had taken place since the ryoka's break-in. The silent and slightly dazed way her fellow shinigami worked, Hinamori's current coma state, the divisions' under Aizen, Tosen, and Gin left only with bitterness and treachery, and Tori…

Ryu shook her head, brown curls bouncing on her back, and frowned in worry. Her best friend was hit the hardest when Aizne lest. Although she was one of the few who managed to pull themselves together, she still scared Ryu sometimes with a blank look in her eyes and sudden tears. Well, it's better than moping around like most of the people are doing, she supposed.

"Hey, Ryu-san."

Lifting her head up at Tsuki's greeting, Ryu couldn't help but smile at her serene voice and countenance. Probably the only one who didn't seemed fazed by recent events. But then again, she's always calm, no matter what happens.

Tsuki, falling in with her and they both walked toward the double door that separated them and what lies beyond.

"Wonder that Yama-jii wants of us," Ryu muttered, staring at the stone etchings on the door.

"Maybe because we're newly appointed?"

The 3rd Division Captain's cloak draped across Ryu's slim frame is another memento from the past. It felt as if she's carrying all the weight of Gin's charges on her shoulders. Tori was appointed to be the 5th Division captain, something she gratefully accept and Ryu disapproved of. She doesn't need something to be reminiscent to when she's already suffering from it. Ryu glanced at the 13th Division badge hanging down on Tsuki's sash with a twinge of regret and sadness. Their rise to more important positions managed to separate the three more than ever. A grim smile appeared on her face, How easily had everything changed…

"But Tori would be here too, if that was the case." She stared back at Tsuki, hoping that an answer would come.

Tsuki shrugged, causing her to sigh. Lovely. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she inserted her key into the slot on the wall. The doors swung open noiselessly, and they found themselves facing the 1st Division Captain. "Tsuki-fukutaichou, Ryu-taichou, I have summoned you here to give you the mission of retrieving a certain individual."

"Who?"

"Tori-taichou of the 5th Division."

"What?! That's impossible. We just saw her yesterday!" Ryu stepped forward angrily, only to be restrained by Tsuki's hand. She shook her head at Ryu, motioning for her to calm herself. Turning toward Yamamoto again, Tsuki asked, "When did this occur?"

"Around last night."

"Mode of transportation?"

"Hell Butterfly. It returned around early morning."

"Search area?"

"Karakuta town. She probably will be around Kisuke Urahara."

"Our orders?" Ryu spoke instead of Tsuki, showing her that she calmed down.

Yamamoto's face turned dark and menacing. "Find and retrieve her."

"If impossible?" Tsuki pressed, causing Ryu to turn her head. What is she thinking?

A heavy pause followed her reply. The general of the Gotei 13 closed his eyes to ponder the question. "If impossible," He said slowly, eyes narrowed like a hawk, "destroy."

Ryu and Tsuki stared at each other, a feeling of dread almost overcame them. Tsuki snapped out of it first, and gave an assuring nod to Ryu. Swallowing the bump in her throat, Ryu nodded back. There's no compromise on this mission, Ryu realized. In part, she hated Tsuki for putting this ultimatum on their shoulders. But also, gladness washed over her heart. At least she's teamed up with someone who left nothing to ambiguity and chance. Under this, however, is a boiling mass of anger. But there's no way possible for her to express that now. She needs to get out of this imposingly cold room. Now. Nodding at last to Tsuki, they both replied, "Hai, Yamamoto-sotaichou!" The two bowed at the wizened man and left the room. Ryu yanked her key out of the slot as she rushed out of the place with Tsuki behind her heels, her head too full of thoughts to even realize that she's practically stomping the floor and almost denting the stone slabs. As soon as the doors closed, a torrent of words rushed out of her mouth.

"What in the world was that idiot thinking?! Has she lost her mind and sanity? She knows that Aizen is still around so why is she trying to get herself killed by being an idiot! Obviously, she wasn't because, apparently she just jumped into the Senkaimon and figured that she could find Aizen by herself she -"

"How could she be thinking when she's trying to find the love of her life?" Tsuki's miserable voice crashed into her rant. She sounded so sad and wretched that Ryu turned back, expecting to see tears flowing out of her eyes. All there was to indicate what Tsuki was feeling before was the tone in which the sentence was voice and her tightly closed eyes. Fragments of sounds surrounded Ryu now, all singing of the past of her life. Through her hooded eyelids, she could almost glimpse the sadness and the troubles that once haunted Tsuki.

Uncontrollably, Ryu started to sing. She sang to ease the troubles of her mind, to soothe and to relax. Painting pictures in the air, she chanted up images of flowers and green meadows, of the eagle flying in the sky, of the colors the setting sun spreads on the puffy clouds, of the blue-grey that Tsuki's so fond of staring at in the morning sky…

Tsuki gradually came back to the level of calmness, but not before Ryu saw some images to trouble her mind. Flashed of exotic color clashed in front of her, a flurry of people leaving and coming, a child's crying tore through the air, blurry pictures of unknown people paraded past her… Suddenly something jumped out at her with amazing clarity, as if she put on a magnifying glass. Ryu remembered that Tori was not born in Soul Society, like she previously thought, but one day just appeared on the doorstep of the Academy. "How did I forget that…"

"Ryu-san, wake UP!" A sound slap landed across Ryu's cheek, bringing her back to reality. Tsuki's face swam into focus as she let go of the sounds, causing Tsuki to sigh in relief. "If that didn't work, I would have put quite a few Senbon needles in some very painful spots."

Ryu let herself be supported for a while as she tried to regain her balance. Hearing the words, she couldn't help but snorted. "Thanks for the thoughtfulness, quite unnecessary, in fact. Next time, a nice bucket of water will do the trick."

"I'll keep that in mind." Tsuki smiled wryly before asking, "What did you see?"

Ryu shrugged, "Flashes of color, pretty much incoherent for the most of it except for one par. I remembered that we didn't know Tori that well at all. She just showed up at the Academy one day, not a long time friend of ours."

She tighten her hold on Ryu for second before relaxing. "You're right. I guess Kyōka Suigetsu's effects are fading."

"Hm. I haven't thought of that. You're right, I suppose." Ryu patted her on her shoulder, telling her that she's fine now. Soon they reached outside of the building. Before they parted way, Ryu added, her face turning toward her destination. "Don't you dare beat yourself up over this." With those parting words, she used her highest level of shunpo to get herself back to her division.

"I'll try, Ryu-san."

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Sorry for the possible grammar errors. The definition for the tarot cards come from Wikipedia.