Author's Note: Zima's particular way of addressing Dita in this chapter and later on is taken directly from the manga. Often Zima will say something like "Dita, love, don't trouble yourself." So when you see the 'love' after her name, it's not something I threw in because I'm a hopeless romantic. ^_~ Clamp wrote it themselves.

Infinity Rerouted

Chapter Three: Processing

It was the first time he had not felt comfortable in the lab.

The machines beeped at him and energy lines wavered across computer screens as they recorded Dita's processes. Without being directly linked to her he couldn't tell exactly how well she was doing but he knew she was still there, in front of him. The files upon files of information now stored within him also included a load of information on her. By focusing on it, he could tell that she had not yet ceased to function. She was still working, still connected to him as all persocons were, and that simple fact made him happy as he sat by her side, waiting. Tanaka had been working for two days to fix Dita's fried circuits and correct the system data that had been destroyed or damaged. The little Chobits own personal firewall had been blasted clear away and software had had to be reinstalled as well as a check to make sure all her other programs were still operating. His Master had finally retired an hour ago for some much needed rest, telling him that Dita would awaken, it was just a matter of time.

It was alright with him. He was a very patient man. He could wait although, looking up at her, he wished she wouldn't make him.

Dita had been strapped to the wall again, shackles around her wrists and ankles keeping her in place. Cables literally dripped over her, tying her to the Tanaka's personal computers. She looked very small hanging there although her physical size seemed to be no measure of how truly strong she was. During the download, when his hard drive had begun to crash, he had felt her inside him, helping him. Her presence had been sweet compared to the searing pain the surge had caused him. Later, Tanaka told him that without Dita's intervention, his OS would have been ripped to shreds. In effect, he would have been terminated.

But he hadn't been.

"Dita, love, it's time to come back to me," he said aloud, calmly reaching up to cup her cheek in his hand. Strands of her dark hair moved through his fingers as he did so and he smiled slightly. "Come back to me."

There was an audible click and then a hum as Dita's system rebooted, Tanaka's computers beeping as the female Chobits opened her eyes slowly. Her ruby gaze met his and she blinked once.

"Zima."

"Don't worry. I'll get you down." Effortlessly, he snapped her shackles with his fingers, catching her against his body as she fell away from the wall. Surprisingly enough, she made no move to leave the circle of his arms once she was free. Instead she leaned into him as she put a hand over her forehead.

"Am I broken?" Before he could reply, her eyes unfocused. "Initiating self scan." Seconds later, he watched bemusedly as she looked up at him. "All systems check."

"Of course. You're strong, Dita." Placing his hands on either side of her face, he bent down until their foreheads were pressed together and he could look into her eyes. "But don't ever do that again."

She protested, "But, Zima, I was made specifically to protect you."

"I don't care."

Her small hand gripped his wrist and his eyes widened. "I'm sorry, Zima, but I won't ever allow anyone to hurt you. No matter what and no matter who," she said fiercely. There was a moment of silence as Zima stared at her and then he laughed softly causing her to frown. Before she could scold him he hugged her tightly.

"Alright, Dita, have it your way."

* * * *

"How is everything, Tanaka?" Chitose asked, setting a cup of tea in front of the younger scientist. The blonde haired woman picked it up with a nod of thanks. "Are those kids doing well?"

Tanaka snorted softly. "Better than well I should say." Chitose arched an eyebrow and her former assistant continued, "They are almost inseparable. It's part of the reason I brought them here. I wanted them to interact with others of their kind."

As one both doctors turned to look through the sliding glass doors of the Hibiya house and out onto the lawn where four Chobits sat talking in the grass. The twins, Freya and Elda, sat smiling and chatting, the flower wreaths they had been making discarded as they made new friends. Zima, the new National Databank, was lying sprawled in the grass, his hands behind his head, eyes closed. Chitose would have thought him asleep if she hadn't seen his mouth move as he replied to something Elda had said. Sitting next to him, Dita only looked ill at ease. She spoke openly but there was something in her eyes and expression when she looked at Freya and Elda. Dislike? Suspicion?

Fear?

Chitose took a sip from her china cup, worried despite herself. " About Dita, is she alright? She looks a bit out of her element."

"I'm not sure. Her repairs took a lot of time but she should be running at full capacity." Tanaka's brow furrowed. "It's strange, but since Zima's download, Dita has become much more protective of him. Her reaction was not foreseen but it's not undesirable." She cleared her throat. "What about Freya? I heard… I heard she has been a little sad."

Chitose set her tea cup down slowly, willing her hands to remain steady. "Yes, she has been very withdrawn lately. She spends more and more time alone and she always appears to be thinking very hard about something. Elda cheers her but…" She released a pent up breath suddenly, her voice quickening. "Tana, I am worried. If I didn't know better I thought she might be heartbroken about something. Even her sister can't make her smile for long. She's keeping something…inside her. A secret."

Tanaka frowned. "Can't you access her memory with your password?"

"I won't. She may be a Chobits, but she's also my daughter. I won't do that to her." Chitose's voice was final.

"Well, perhaps it will pass then." Tanaka reached over to grasp her former teacher's hand. "Don't worry, Chitose. I'm sure everything will work out in time."

The older woman tried to smile. "I hope you're right."

* * * *

"Eh, Dita."

The attack Chobits rubbed her eyes and stretched, turning over on Zima's stomach so she could see him better. She had been about to fall asleep, secure as she was between Zima's legs, her head pillowed on his chest. "What?"

He smiled in that secretive way of his. "How did you like Freya and Elda? They're like us, you know. Shidou based our systems on theirs."

"I am not like them," Dita said immediately, causing him to tilt his head at her. She rested her chin on her hands as she continued. "There's something to them. They have something I don't. Something we don't."

His eyebrows rose. "What?"

"I don't know."

"You're being awfully vague for a logic-based persocon."

She ignored his teasing. "Don't you know what it is?"

That secretive smile was back. "I have an idea." He tapped her nose with one finger. "But I'm not going to tell you just yet since I'm not completely sure."

"Zima," she said warningly.

"You're very cute when you're angry."

Disgruntled, she turned over once again but when Zima wrapped an arm around her a few minutes later she didn't push him away. He liked for her to be near him and if her presence made him happy then she would stay with him forever.

The sunlight seeped into her, warming her and the feel of Zima beneath her, safe and sound, gave her a sense of calm. Soon enough her eyes began to close and just as her sleep mode took effect, Zima's quiet voice reached her.

"Someone Just For Me."

To Be Continued…