Author's Notes: .hack/G.U.is property of CyberConnect2, and I'm making no financial profit from the use of their characters. Each drabble is based around one of the major arcana from a Tarot deck, so I'll be writing a total of 22. Comments are greatly appreciated, including concrit.

Regarding the first one, I'm aware that Hiiragi's PC is male, but he seems to prefer it when people refer to him using female pronouns.

Loose Fortunes

0. The Fool

She'd felt like such a fool. As if it wasn't tragedy enough that the man she'd adored had lost his mind, then somebody told her about those Online Jack episodes. He wasn't a man at all! Just some child with wisdom beyond his years, and even that had withered away.

But such a deception made it even easier to sweep him from her heart. Hiiragi saw The World as a place where she could be honest about herself, far more than in the real world. Some silly people hadn't respected that, but many did – she'd been one of Moon Tree's Unit Leaders, after all. Nothing good came from too many lies.

She found herself thinking of Moon Tree a lot lately, reminiscing. Frankly, she missed it, would welcome being surrounded by other people's drama again. Many ex-members still played The World: Sophora, who was really a sweetheart under that silent exterior, and Matsu, though he'd never been one of Hiiragi's favourite people, and Kaede always chasing after Lord Zelkova (who might be a much better leader than Sakaki had claimed, during those last awful squabbles and mutinies).

It was Sakaki's charm and noble ideals (and admittedly, his gorgeous PC too) that first drew Hiiragi to Moon Tree, but now it was for the guild's own sake that she hoped for its revival. She'd been a fool before, but no longer!

I. The Magician

Hacking was a kind of magic, when you thought about it. Not OrLei Zas-type fireworks, or rabbits out of trick hats, but real, powerful sorcery that could change the shape of The World and everything in it, turn people into frogs and frogs into King Chim Chims, if you liked.

Zelkova had plenty of fun with his magic, and plenty without it too. For boring tasks like item farming he'd just key in the right symbols and - Abracadabra! – no need to bother with that now, let's go kick Chim Chims instead! But for other things, like organising Moon Tree, there was no secret shortcut (not that hacking was super easy). You couldn't just make people think the way you wanted, you had to talk in a clear voice and listen with an open heart - but that could be just as much fun, because Moon Tree had so many nice people. Sometimes it made Zelkova even prouder than his work on Tartarga.

The Seven Council all believed in changing The World to better shapes, though they each went about it differently. There was one Unit Leader, Sakaki, who had been acting kind of weird lately - but things would probably turn out fine, even without magic. They always did!

II. The High Priestess

No doubt Harvest Cleric was the gentlest class in The World, the kindest. The Medic Union proved that, with their tubby little PCs dedicated to healing and buffing strangers, not even asking for a thank-you in return (though Atoli always thanked them with a smile, and reminded Haseo to as well). She'd been drawn in by that gentleness, and lived up to it as best she could, though she sometimes worried if her best was good enough. But if she made too many mistakes then people would tell her, right? Haseo certainly would. He was good for things like that.

It was strange, how different the real and online worlds could be. Atoli tried to be the same kind person everywhere, she really did, but the real world didn't have healing spells or famous guilds, so nobody wanted to know her. She still tried to act cheerful even when she felt sad inside, and do generous things, but…nobody wanted to know. Even birds at the park wouldn't hang around somebody who had no bread for them.

Sometimes Atoli wondered what would happen if the world and The World collided, and she gained magical healing powers in both. Then she wouldn't go ignored. A child would fall and scuff their knee in the pavement, and get up with a wonder-filled smile for her after she cast Repth. Everybody who didn't care before would want her help, and be friendly, and she'd have the choice of turning them all away because of their past unkindness.

But of course she wouldn't do that. She would heal them all, even when they didn't thank her afterwards, even when she was tired herself, so long as they acknowledged her in the moment of need. It was nice to know that, to know it made her a gentle person, but…it was also a little frustrating, and a little sad if she dwelled on it too much.

III. The Empress

Sometimes, when the other Epitaph Users were at their worst, Pi felt like the teacher to a mob of unruly schoolchildren. When Haseo started picking fights or Kuhn began flirting with random female PCs, when Saku was shrieking about some crime against romance – Pi had no interest in the details, but felt slightly concerned that such a young girl was trying to find boyfriends over the internet. A certain amount of trouble could be forgiven, Pi supposed, because they were young and easily distracted (and not employed by CC Corp, not privy to so many alarming reports). But even children should be able to grasp that a looming Network Crisis was a bad thing.

Master Yata, on the other hand, was far more reliable.

Then there were better times, when the foolishness of an Epitaph User's actions would be neutralised by bravery, by the results it produced. When they came together as an effective, harmonic team (and in real life, Pi's cat curled up on her lap and purred regally, because it had learned that the appearance of the M2D meant she'd be sitting still for a while). And yes, of course she felt proud of them then, of course it gave her renewed hope for the future.

But she still wouldn't rate any of them higher than Master Yata.

IV. The Emperor

They were good kids at heart, all of them (though Antares didn't know how old Sirius and Taihaku were in real life, to be calling them kids). Past and present alike, they'd all pulled together when it counted most, no matter how badly they'd been led astray before. He was damn proud of them for that.

Over here was Taihaku, swinging a sword less fancy than Silad had been, but getting the job done just as well. Back to back stood fiery little Alkaid and tall, solemn Sirius, looking nothing alike but hacking into Cubia Gomoras (or whatever these things were called, not like it made a difference) with equal guts. You'd never know the pair of them had been out cold in comas just a few days ago, would you?

And there was that quiet one, Endrance, backing up Antares' own star pupil. Haseo raced past with a glance to his mentor, before he and his party vanished into some kind of hacked portal, leaving only the monster swarms behind. Antares took a gulp of his whiskey in real life, and grinned with relish. Past and present, old and new, the Emperors of Icolo were combining their might for stakes higher than any arena battle. A good day to die, but an even better one to live and triumph!

V. The Hierophant

Yata entertained no illusions about the power he held (unless that itself was an illusion). He was no god, but controlled many rare tools, and knew how best to use each one. He had the Serpent of Lore and the trust of CC Corp, his background as a .hacker and information broker…and his Avatar, providing leverage even in its dormant state. But it would awaken eventually, so long as he kept faith.

So his power was significant, tempered by a deep love of The World to only use it wisely. Supported by Pi, a trusted colleague, and Kuhn, who felt much compassion for his fellow players, and then Haseo, an obnoxious brat in dire need of guidance, but who seemed to be finally opening his eyes. Later Atoli, a meek but kind-hearted girl, and Endrance, a difficult soul only joining because he was smitten with Haseo, and Sakubo, a divided soul only joining because one half was smitten with Endrance. Not ideal allies, those last two, but perhaps they could be guided as well as Haseo had been. Yata's disciples, in a way.

Numbers meant strength, meant that a solution to defeating AIDA must be close at hand. Yata never doubted this, because doubting meant imagining the death of The World, and that was beyond imagination. Why did CC Corp keep harassing him, trying to hurry the process? Didn't they believe he was doing his best? Didn't they have faith in their creations?

When the Serpent of Lore was snatched from him, Yata felt all the bitterness of a fallen deity, the doors to eternity slamming closed in his face.

VI. The Lovers

Valentine's Day was one of Kuhn's favourite holidays. This year he'd gotten an especially good haul, both offline and on – though of course it wasn't the gift itself that mattered, but the deep feelings of the girl behind it. He tried not to think about how much his wallet would be stretched to repay them all, once White Day rolled around.

When he asked Pi what she was going to give him, she replied that Valentine's Day was a ridiculous consumerist occasion. When he asked if she'd given Yata anything, the look in her eyes wasn't so much heart-stealing as blood-curdling. Kuhn left her alone and went to compare gifts with the guys.

Silabus said he'd received something, but wouldn't say from who, and seemed rather puzzled about the whole deal. Gaspard shyly admitted that a nice girl in his class had given him chocolates, for which Kuhn congratulated him heartily, until his face darkened from pink to red. Haseo was a harder nut to crack; he rebuffed all Kuhn's questions, saying it was a stupid thing to talk about.

"C'mon, you must have gotten something! Not from Atoli or Alkaid? Not even Endrance? LOL"

"Two out of three; stuff like that isn't Alkaid's style. Now go bother someone else."

VII. The Chariot

Some people think it's silly, Tabby knows – how she dashes around, always smiling, always looking for a new source of fun. They think it makes her silly, and that she can't think about complex and serious matters like they do.

Of course she can, as much as she has to! Nursing is a serious job, taking another person's life into your hands and making them feel confident in your skills. And sometimes they'll be too sick to cure, and it will be very sad (and she'll still have to put on a cheerful face for the other patients).

But The World isn't a good place for sadness, is it? It's a place for meeting friends and going on adventures, and the bad times she's had here are all in the past. Shino is awake, Haseo isn't angry anymore, and Sakisaka grumbles but says he's considering a return too, even though the Twilight Brigade is gone forever. Seisaku and Hideyo still really care about healing people, and say she can join the Medic Union anytime. The World is a happy place to be, so why not smile with all her heart?

VIII. Strength

People can be strong in many different ways. Silabus knew his PC wasn't all that special: he couldn't hold his own against those scary high-level PKs, and always brought plenty of healing items when he went on a quest (some for him, and extra for everybody else). He didn't have rare equipment or a lot of money, and believed it was best to help newbies earn things for themselves, rather than buying them whatever they needed; spare items went to Shop Acorn because Gaspard enjoyed running it, but it was only a small, low-level shop. Canard itself was still beginner level, with a little guild base in Mac Anu that had no special features.

Silabus didn't mind any of those facts, though, because they weren't why he played The World. You could either hoard all your time, all your effort, all your strength for yourself, or you could spread it around so that everyone felt the benefit; Canard took the second approach. No high-level players looked up in envy when Silabus and Gaspard strolled by, but some of the newbies smiled and waved, and that was a far better feeling.

IX. The Hermit

…It hurt. Nothing had ever cut this deep when Mia – the newer Mia, the small, frail, speechless Mia – had been by his side. Even the contentment she'd brought was hazy and watered-down, compared to the vicious ache of Endrance's loneliness now. Why did things always happen this way, taking the cruellest possible path?

All he could rely on now was the ice, sealing him up in its hard, apathetic embrace. He could still speak if he chose, but had nothing to say, and still saw with relative clarity, but there was nothing much to look at. Motes of snowy light drifted through the dead air of Indieglut Lugh. A child visited sometimes to chatter nonsense at him.

And then Haseo came, and then Haseo left, and the ice began to melt…

Half of Endrance was afraid, knowing that once he tore this cocoon he'd be out amongst others with no shelter, no security. He could be hurt again. Even if Haseo was sincere, even if Haseo truly needed him, something bad could still occur, and Endrance feared that one more tragedy might shatter him for good. He was afraid…

…Yet he was hopeful, too. Haseo, that angry and prideful person who'd sought conflict in Demon Palace, had a new note of kindness in his voice. Sounded stronger, but more willing to speak from his heart, admit that he couldn't win alone. Haseo, who had slain that new Mia – that thing that wasn't truly Mia, but a safe and beautiful delusion. Could he replace that now, with something real? Would he? If Endrance gave Haseo his aid, would Haseo…?

The more Endrance thought about it, the more like destiny it seemed…

X. Wheel of Fortune

Piros the 3rd considered himself a very fortunate man, yes indeed! He led not one but three excellent lives, at home, at work and online. A lesser man might have found this tiring, or struggled to manage his time, but Piros never found himself weary or discontent - though it was true that those around him sometimes suffered from such emotions, most likely because of their weaker spirits. His wife in particular seemed to feel this way, but with luck their daughter would inherit her father's bright and blazing soul!

Piros furnished his daughter with her own set of paints and brushes, eager to encourage her artistic side. And oh, the mischief she got up to with those! He'd be keeping an eye on her while he played The World, become distracted for an instant, and in that brief spell she'd ruined a rug with her first forays into finger-painting (hadn't that one been a gift from his wife's cousin?). Her antics never failed to amuse him!

But alas! One day he returned home from work, eager to spend an hour or two hunting Tri-Edge before dinner, only to discover that his M2D had fallen afoul of his daughter's paint brushes! His wife explained that it had been an accident, but was less sympathetic than he'd expected her to be…