Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. All readers and reviews appreciated, thank you!

"OK, where do we start?" Eames took a sip of water and sat down. The heat in Tokyo was clammy, and the Forger could feel his shirt becoming stained with sweat.

"Right." Cobb looked at the other three team members. "We start by finding out where Saito's key offices are. Then, you go to it, Eames."

"Me?" Eames looked surprised. "Why not you?"

"He'll expect me to go," Cobb explained. "If you go, it'll surprise him. Make him wonder what's going on."

"Then what?" Eames took a sip of water.

"We find Arthur. I'm imagining that Saito won't let him out of his sight. He's become too valuable a commodity. We get him to come with us – and if we have to, we use force."

Eames raised his eyebrows. "Is that wise?"

"Only if we have to. I mean that."

Ariadne shifted slightly. "Then what do we do?"

"We take him-" Cobb pointed at the map he'd pinned to a board behind him – "here. Its part of Tokyo where you can rent warehouse space. We'll bring him here, perform the inception."

"And the inception itself," Eames commented, is going to consist of four layers, right?"

"If it needs to."

"And where do we start?"

"We start at base," Cobb spoke authoratively. "We start with Arthur's fear that he's fat, and therefore is going to such extreme measures to control his weight. Then we move onto 'I am liked and approved of'. Then we go to 'No matter what, people will love me and appreciate me.'"

"Brilliant," Eames commented. "This is going straight to the heart of what has probably triggered it. But God knows what we'll find lurking in his mind."

"Projections," Cobb muttered. "We'll need to be prepared."

"Absolutely," Eames nodded.

"And then-" Cobb paused. "If necessary, we take him to a clinic."

"Any particular reason?"

"Nutrition." Cobb looked at Eames. "Arthur needs to learn how to eat again, and eat properly. Plus, he's a –"

"Bag of bones." Eames finished. "I knew he was getting bad when his dimples disappeared."

A choked sob escaped from Ariadne. All three men turned to her. Eames got off his seat and knelt down beside her.

"Don't cry, sweetheart," his voice was gentle. "This can be done, we can get Arthur back."

"But will he-" she choked the words out.

"Yes?" Eames' voice was soft. "Talk to us."

"Will he ever be the same?"

Cobb swallowed. "Ari – I can't answer that question. None of us can. But I think he will be better than he is."

He looked at Eames. "I hope."


Arthur took Elise's hand. She stirred.

"Elise?" He whispered softly. "Elise, can you hear me? Its Arthur. You're in Tokyo. So am I."

He paused. Her had no idea what to say next.

A loud pounding was coming from the door. Without warning, it swung open, and Saito entered.

"Getting re-acquainted, are we?"

"What did you give her, Mr Saito?" Arthur stood up. "She's very heavily sedated."

"Something to help her relax. She'll come round in a minute. Then you can start the extraction."

"Mr Saito," Arthur was trying to stay calm. "I don't have a PASIV. I can't go into her mind if-"

"I don't want you to go into her mind." Saito's voice was very calm. "There are easier ways, Arthur. There is a room booked for you both at the Imperial Hotel. My staff will escort you."

Arthur's eyes bulged. "You want me to sleep with her?"

"It was my plan all along." Saito looked at him. "Don't tell me you don't find her attractive?"

Arthur swallowed. "Mr Saito, I find her very attractive. But – this is-"

Saito's eyes bored into his. "What is it, Arthur?"

"Its prostitution. You're paying me to extract through sex."

Saito glared at him. "Arthur. You're in no position to argue with me. You will do as I ask."

"And if I don't?"

Saito walked towards him.

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life in jail, Arthur? It would only take one phone call for me to inform that authorities about the heist that was performed on Robert Fischer. I'm sure he would be willing to testify. Think about it. A bulimic like you wouldn't survive. You would be left to become sicker and sicker. And eventually-"

"You told me I'd go to a clinic." Arthur tried to keep his voice steady.

"Only if you do as I ask." Saito's voice was steely. "Now. You will go to the Imperial, and you will show her exactly what you can do. As soon as you have, you go to a clinic. And you'll stay there until I need you again."

Arthur's heart was pounding. "You can't do this."

"You are so naïve, Arthur," Saito said with a grim chuckle. "You really thought that I'd help you? Of course – but only if you help me first."

Elise's eyes were flickering. "Huh…hmm…"

Arthur went back to her side. "Elise, it'll be ok. It'll be ok, I promise."

Saito smiled. "Perfect." He pointed at his assistants. "Help her stand. Get them to the Imperial."

One of the men nodded. "Yes, Sir."


Eames and Cobb walked out of the hotel. The air conditioning had made the rooms tolerable – walking into the street was akin to walking into a steam bath.

"I forget how warm it is here," Eames grumbled. "I'm used to grey skies, rain, and…weather."

Cobb raised his eyebrows. "You're sure you wouldn't prefer hot and sunny?"

"Nope. I can afford espressos, a jumper, and a curvaceous woman or two to keep me warm, thank you. Right. Lets find Saito."

Cobb paused. "OK. I reckon we're heading for the centre of the city."

"Lets go."

"Eames-"

"Yes?"

"Do you think Airadne will be ok?"

Eames looked at the Extractor. "Yes." He spoke honestly. "But we need to keep an eye on her."


Arthur looked at the scene before him. Elise had been laid on the bed – a king sized bed, with cotton sheets – in the luxurious hotel room. The smell of tiger lilies perfumed the air.

Arthur walked towards her, unbuttoning his shirt. He slid it off, and it fell to the floor, noiselessly. Coming up to her, he kissed her on the forehead.

She stirred. He kissed her again.

"Hmmm?"

"Elise?" he whispered. "Its Arthur. We're in trouble. Serious trouble. Saito-" he paused. He couldn't bear to say the words.

He ran his finger down her cheek, remembering the times he'd fantasised about her, cursing Cobb for what had happened. He brushed a hand against his groin, feeling his shoulders sag as he realised that he was less stimulated than he'd ever been in his life.

"I need to-" he whispered. "I need to have-"

Her eyes were flickering.

He closed his eyes. If he thought of Ariadne – suddenly, he felt himself stirring. He exhaled.

"Who….Where…?"

Her voice was thick with sleep. Arthur turned to her.

"Elise, are you-"

"Arthur?"

"Yes?"

"Where am I?"

"We're in a hotel. Saito wants me to-" his voice started to choke.

"Arthur. Please…."

"Please…?" He knelt down. "What do you want, please tell me?"

"Arthur, get out of here." Her voice was starting to get stronger.

"You're coming with me."