Bliss

The team has moved to Japan after Ariadne's kidnapping and rescue. I wanted to make this chapter because I kept having the breakfast scene in my head and felt it would show how content they are. (Well, most of them.)

Ariadne was fortunate that the apartment Saito provided allowed a small dark room in what was once a half bath. It took only a day for a crew to transform it into a perfect dark room for her new hobby. She had fallen in love with photography since she and the Team moved to Japan almost 6 months ago. Braker (The Australian Forger) had given her a camera and she had dutifully taken pictures of unique buildings, but Japan had a beautiful mix of old and new she had never seen before. She could be walking down a modern street market, full of lights and noise, and turn a corner and be on another market that looked exactly like it had two centuries ago. She had the dark room installed because digital was to perfect. It lacked a human touch and talent. The shutter and physical feel of bringing a photo to life was a labor of love. To see the image float into existence on the paper was like magic. She had spent her weekend photographing a temple that had been abandoned after the second world war. It was stunningly foreboding in the fact that it was neglected. With plants slowly reclaiming it, it almost looked evil.

Arthur was fully dressed with a cup of coffee and a new paper in hand. He looked up at the red light above Ariadne little dark room. The red light was on, which meant not to disturb her. He gave a soft knock instead.

"Yes?" came her muffled voice.

"Breakfast is ready." he called.

"Alright." She replied. The red light flicked off and she appeared.

"I finished developing the temple. It's so amazing." She said showing him the 8X10 black and white. Arthur nodded dutifully.

"Very nice." He said honestly. "I never would have thought to take pictures from this angel." He added.

"I was going to show them to my instructor later this week. I also think they can be used for our dream work." She added. Arthur nodded.

"I think Cobb will be impressed." He agreed. The pair sat down and a large dinner table.

"Thank you for cooking." she said with a laugh as she helped herself to the hot scones and fruit Arthur obviously just bought from a local store just an hour before. He gave her a rare smile.

"Your cleaning up." He said opening his paper.

"You know," Ariadne said nodding to his paper "You'll never learn Japanese if you keep reading The New York Times every morning." Arthur sighed softly. This was an old banter between him and the rest of the Team. Ever stubborn, Arthur had difficulty assimilating to Japanese culture. It was to loud, to busy. There was to much happening around them and it was confusing. Ariadne and Eames took to Japan with ease. They absorbed all factors of the culture with fascination. Cobb seemed to take to life in Japan well, but only because he spent most of his time at work with Saito and American colleges. His children loved Japan. It was a flurry of never ending excitement for them. Like all young people, they learned to speak Japanese very quickly and often translated for there Father. Arthur desired nether the excitement or pace of such a busy people. The front door opened and Eames strolled in.

"Good morning kiddies." He sang out helping himself to a scone and a banana. "I had a lively night at the Karaoke bar when you two downers left. Met a lovely young thing. By the way Ariadne if she comes around just pretend to be my jealous wife."

"Yeah." Ariadne said, distracted by her photographs.

"Same as last time." Eames added. Arthur looked at the Forger in mild annoyance. The was a routine for the Team. Cobb took his kids to school and then the Team had a nice "Homemade" breakfast before braving the day of dream extraction. Eames looked at Arthur and frowned.

"You know Mate, you'll never learn Japanese if you keep reading the news in English." He said. Ariadne didn't look up from her photos but a wide smile speared across her face.

"I do fine Mr. Eames." Arthur stated trying to concentrate on a dull article.

"Right," Eames said rolling his eyes. He looked at Ariadne "How is your new major, Darling?"

"I haven't switched majors." The Architect said in a sing song voice. It was a statement she had made so many times lately she was well practiced at it. "It's just a hobby."

"Your taking a class at the international college and you have your own dark room." Eames stated.

"I'm not a professional student." She said defensively.

"Your not?" Arthur and Eames both said in surprise. Ariadne shot the Point Man a look as Eames chuckled.

"Morning all," Cobb said coming in and throwing his jacket over a chair. "Traffic is picking up and it looks like rain." He nodded to Arthur as he sat down and helped himself to breakfast.

"No problem." Arthur said. "I finally got the car out." The Point Man shook his head. "Nightmare of red tape."

"You know, in Japan most people take the train." Ariadne said "Its faster then fighting the traffic."

"No, its safer to drive." was the Point Man's retort. He didn't need to explain any further. Arthur had diligently worked to get a license to drive in Japan so that the Team could have there own transportation. The events from 6 months ago were still very raw. Ariadne's kidnapping and discovery of COBAL's research into extraction put them all in a state of being on constant guard. It was the reason they had all chosen to live in the same apartment building. Saito had them working exclusively for him in extraction. The businessman afforded them a comfortable life in a foreign country.

"I'm surprised your willing to drive at all." Eames said "Your not liking Japan." Eames commented.

"I like Japan." Arthur said defensively.

"You don't embrace it. You never have fun with the rest of us." Eames told him. Cobb stood up and took his cell phone out. He usually made his morning round of calls before the Team was done eating. Arthur said nothing. Ariadne looked at the Point Man.

"You don't have a T.V. In your apartment." She said softly. Arthur shook his head.
"I didn't watch T.V. In the States." He told her.

"I'm just saying that if you watched some of the shows here, it may help you to feel more connected. When I first moved to Paris, even though I spoke the language, I still felt out of place. You have to embrace the culture in order to enjoy our life here."She said in a low voice. Eames, sensing this conversation was not for him, stood up and pretended an interest in the view out Ariadne's window.

"I enjoy our life here." Arthur said honestly. "I enjoyed going out with you to see the temples last week. I really did. This place is just... chaotic." He finished. Ariadne sighed. Arthur was born in the wrong century and Japan was years ahead of everywhere else in the world. They were not a good mix.

"I wont bring it up anymore." She promised.

"You know, you don't have to have Eames and Cobb here every morning like this." Arthur said. He had grown irritated at having the Forger so close all the time. He was much more relaxed with just the two of them and those times had become far to few.

"No, I like it." Ariadne said gathering up the scant dishes. "It's very homey. I feel like I have brothers or something." She said taking the dishes over to the small but stylish kitchen.

"Brothers?" Arthur said in annoyance but no one heard him because Cobb had finished his call.

"Saito has some news about COBAL." The Extractor told them. "It looks like there trying to rebuild there own extraction team again."

"Using that horrid new PASIV contraption we stole?" Eames asked. Cobb nodded. Arthur stood and shrugged on his coat. The Team silently and with purpose exited Ariadne's apartment and Arthur (with his own key) locked the door behind them.
"You know Arthur," Cobb said as they watched Ariadne and Eames head down the hall "You'll never pick up Japanese if you keep reading and American newspaper every morning." The Extractor followed the Forger and Architect and didn't see the filthy look the Point Man gave him.

In the busy streets of Japan a teenage girl ran. It had already started to rain and the labyrinth of streets helped her hide. She ducked into a nearby shop to catch her breath. She had to find them. Warn them. Perhaps they could protect her. She had no idea who these people were and if they could be trusted. But anywhere was better then what her pursuers had in mind for her. She looked out the shop window and saw that it was empty except for a skinny stray cat lazily stalking his next meal. She retrieved a tattered envelope from her graffiti messenger bag. And pulled out the stolen photos. There were a candid photo of Arthur and Cobb at an airport. Another of Arthur and Ariadne getting into a cab. Yet a third and forth showed Eames and Saito. In bright red in there was stamped across each photo.

TOP SECRET: Property of COBAL engineering.