Thanks to my reviewers, Syaoran-lover and Elihice. Thanks hugely for your flattery and yes it does work.
Author's Note: This has shonnen ai so if you have problems with that... what the hell are you doing reading Clamp anyway? giggles
Reunification
To steal something as massive as one of these "avatars", the hardware that encased Idomu like some sort of a modern sarcophagus, was no easy task. By Akira's descriptions it would be dangerous, perhaps fatal to simply disconnect him. Akira had seen no jacks or plugs on the wires to suggest that removing him from the system was possible. The mention of "new wires" was encouraging. If these were the connection wires that were embedded into his body, it meant that they could be removed.
By the files Akira had found and photographed, the avatar that Idomu was inside weighted almost a ton and a half. As helpful as that knowledge was, unfortunately the information he had gotten was all on the stats of the device and its hook ups to the outside and gave no worthwhile descriptions of the internals. What it did tell them was that the avatar was self-sustaining for the most part. Save electricity and a weekly inserted cocktail of nutrients, the life-support systems for the "core" were all built in and a back up power supply could keep it all running for a week if placed on minimal usage. After all, what the point of building such an expensive "device" if a simple power outage could kill it?
Also installed on the device were wheels on the underside for moving it. According to the files, a leaver on the one side needed to be dropped and the wheels would come up. The newer avatars were fully mobile with advanced hover capabilities, but Idomu's was built before that was added. A shame, but they could get around it. Akira assured them that he had "retrieved" items larger, though the insane level of security was a difficulty.
Only one elevator and one flight of stairs led to the lower levels. The stairs had alarms all over them and the elevator was watched by two armed guards. The stairs would be far easier, but due to the size of the avatar it wasn't a possibility. Smuggling it out in smaller pieces also wasn't an option for fear of wounding or killing Idomu within. Akira's solution: "We can't remove it, so we'll let them do it for us."
The two of them moved through the passage that Akira had chartered, with the thief taking the head, Suoh at the back. On Suoh's collar was a small pin camera, sending back a steady feed to a very nervous Nokoru. He'd first been dead set to come with them, saying that he had to see him, to tell him he was there and everything would fine. He had to! Though, in the end, reason had won through his pain and he'd seen the liability he'd be in there. With the camera and earpiece in Suoh's ear, he could help mentally without risking a mistake from his clumsy hands. Watching the screen with unblinking eyes, Nokoru nervously opened and closed his fan while they moved through the ducts carefully.
Nokoru watched Akira turn back to Suoh and touch his arm, in what could only be taken as comforting or reassuring, and then held a finger to his lips before continuing on. Though he couldn't see it, he was sure that Suoh's expression was one of confusion, but Nokoru wasn't left guessing at the reason for long. Suddenly Suoh stopped for a moment and then continued, though the tremor in his movements was unmistakable. They passed over a vent very cautiously and below Nokoru could only see darkness but he recognized the seeping cold that spread from the monitor. The other one was below them and Nokoru shivered in his seat, thankful when they moved past it. It wasn't much further before they dropped through another vent.
He'd seen pictures from Akira, but the video made it even more real and as the black case came into view, Idomu's living tomb, he had to stifle a sob. Quickly Suoh went to a terminal and found the program used to speak with Idomu. "Idomu?"
The screen replied cautiously. "Who's there?"
"Takamura, and Ijyuin san is here as well. Nokoru sent us for you; he's watching us by video." He paused a moment as Nokoru spoke quickly into the mike.
"Tell him I would be there, I wanted to be there- Tell him we're going to have him safely out of there. T-"
"Yes," he responded, stopping his rambling and typed. "Nokoru wants you know that we're going to have you safely out of here."
The screen lit up with text before Suoh could get much relayed. "You have to leave NOW! I didn't want him to know, I didn't want him involved in this. You can't do anything for me, please just leave."
Suoh obediently relayed Nokoru's response. "From Nokoru: I can't leave you in this nightmare. We're getting you out. Don't worry."
"There's nothing you can do for me, get them out of here. I'll be alright. Thank you for worrying but there's nothing to be done."
"You won't be alright," Suoh replied for him quickly. "They're planning on killing you and starting over with someone else."
There was a pause but not very long. "I suspected that; I didn't know that you knew of it." The next line came up before Suoh could type. "There's nothing to be done for it. Risking Takamura san and Ijyuin san will solve nothing.
"Will solve nothing? You're going to be killed, Idomu san. I won't stand by and let that happen. You're my friend." He was thankful that Idomu san couldn't hear his voice break a little at that.
Apparently frustrated at Nokoru's obstinacy, he decided to switch tactics. "Takamura san, surely you see the futility in this, the worthlessness of this action?"
"The rijichou wants for your safety."
"He can want for it all he wants, but its not going to happen. What if this goes wrong, what if you and Ijyuin are caught? You're both here, what will become of Nokoru if you're both lost, who will protect him?" Nokoru was talking to Suoh throughout this, demanding he ignore the statements, but he knew the logic was sound and was the perfect argument to use against Suoh. "Don't let him endanger himself for someone crippled up in a box. There's nothing here to save. You have to have priorities now; he's not thinking clearly."
Nokoru could feel tears on his cheeks as he continued to beg Suoh not to listen, but Suoh was silent. It was working, he was seeing Idomu's logic and in the end, he knew cold logic would always hold more power than emotion ever could. Unwilling to let anything endanger Idomu he crossed a line he'd always sworn never to cross. "Suoh, I order you to comply with my orders. MY state of mind isn't your concern, you are bound to obey me!!"
Suoh, visible to him by the reflection of the screen, dipped his head and reached up to press the microphones to his throat. "My apologies, Rijichou." The shamed sound in his voice, to have been considering disobeying his lord, was painful to Nokoru.
Takamura sempai, what is wrong?" Akira asked, coming back from the preparations he'd been working diligently on.
"Nothing, a slight delay due to my foolishness. Go back to your work, we'll be ready shortly."
Nokoru sighed with relief but inwardly feared the results of playing that card. No matter. he told himself. As much as he needed Suoh's friendship, Idomu's life took precedence. He just prayed that he hadn't just destroyed that treasured friendship. He had always strove to pull Suoh away from the traditional notion that he was the possession of his master, and in one moment he had brought it back to ground zero.
"I'm sorry Yuudaiji san, I must obey my orders. You can either aid us, or hinder us."
The screen was blank for a moment before he answered. "Very well, what do you need of me?" With that conceding statement, Suoh relayed Akira's and Nokoru's plan.
According to the papers Akira had seen, the remains of Avatar 619 was being removed today in approximately six hours. Because it had failed due to massive hardware failure, and not due to its ghost, it was being taken to another dept. for study: high above to the fourth sub level.
The only distinguishing feature between Idomu and 619 was the number and workmen wouldn't be looking too closely anyway. They would simply move Idomu so that he was in 619's lab and place the shell of 619 in place of Idomu. That would get them part of the way. "It won't work," replied Idomu's text.
"Ijyuin san says it will, and this is his area of expertise,"
"It won't work," his text stated. "Even if you could avoid the cameras and the guards and the alarms, there's still 666 in the next room." Another line came up before Suoh could reply. "It's probably watching us now, you have to leave now."
"That's not an option," Suoh answered quickly, automatically.
"You don't understand, it's... dangerous. It electrocuted a researcher a couple months ago. It's insane," Idomu typed and then paused.
Suoh didn't bother to approach that and instead went to business. "How do we disconnect you safely?"
Again the screen sat blank but in the end answered, detailing the procedure and at the end, before the connections were pulled he typed, "Nokoru, please call them back. I'm touched that you're willing to risk so much, but this is a lost cause. Please. They might still get out of here."
"Tell him it'll be alright and I'll see him when he reaches Clamp," Nokoru said and watched as Suoh relayed the message and signaled Akira to cut the lines.
Moving Idomu and the dead husk of 619 was slow and delicate work but in the end they managed it and exchanged the numbers. That done they made their way to the fourth level. Though they had the chilled feeling that 666 had taken notice of them, they were able to enact the first stage without interruption. Tucked in a vent, the two sat and waited for Idomu's arrival.
The cramped quarters were all the more unpleasant by the tensions between the once dear friends. "Suoh...?" Akira asked softly. Suoh's only response was to fix him with that hard, cold gaze that seemed to pierce him, as if to peel back the layers and expose him. He felt transparent when he did that, with all his sins laid out for the ninja. He curled up on himself, recoiling from Suoh a moment. "I'm sorry... I won't bother you..."
Looking down at his hands, he didn't see Souh's face fall. "What did you want Ijyuin san?"
The younger thief shook his head, never looking up. "No, it's nothing. I didn't mean to bother you."
Suoh sighed. "Ijyuin san..." he started but Akira shook his head again, pulling tighter in on himself.
"No, it's alright. Rijichou isn't here. I'm glad you keep the peace when he's around; it was hurting him badly when we fought in front of him." His light voice cracked a bit and he kept his face hidden. "I shouldn't want for more."
He was like that when he felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder. "We didn't fight; I shouted while you apologized. Fights are two sided things."
Akira nodded, but again begged, "I'm sorry, sempai."
"Stop it, Ijyuin," he said harshly, causing Akira to duck down tighter. "You've begged my forgiveness everyday since I found out, even if you weren't saying it, it was in your eyes. I heard you every time you looked at me, and yet I've never granted it to you. Why do you keep trying?" he said with an exasperated tone that made Akira's heart ache.
"I..." It was relatively safe to talk, but Akira had to fight hard not to come undone. "I'm sorry, it's just that- that you still mean so much to me. You were my friend for so long, and I keep stupidly trying to get that back, even though I ruined it. E-Even if I'll never be your friend again, you'll always be mine...," he said quietly. "I'm sorry I'm not a better person to be worthy of the friendship I stole from you all those years. I-" he started weakly but a hand on his shoulder again stopped him.
"I said stop Ijyuin... You... You didn't steal my friendship. You've begged me to forgive you for years now, more times than you should have had to... You've done everything in your power to redeem yourself and- and I've never accepted you back." He paused for a moment, straining against himself. "I should be begging your forgiveness, so please stop asking for mine."
Akira suddenly looked up see the pained expression on Suoh's down turned face. "Takamura Sempai?" It had never occurred to him that his sempai was hurting over this, too.
"I... I do try, I just..." He shook his head. "The fault in this is mine. I was justified to be upset before, but not to be as cruel as I was and not to carry it this long. I'm deeply sorry for the hurtful things I said that day, and for holding onto my outrage so long." He turned his brown eyes up at him a moment and for the first time in so long, Akira didn't see disgust, or anger, or icy cold judgment; he instead saw a lot of sorrow and pain.
Akira took the hand that gripped his shoulder and held it tightly. "It's alright. I shouldn't lied to you for so long. I deserved-"
"Of course you didn't," Suoh snapped, but now Akira knew his anger wasn't directed at him. "You've always been a true friend. You've stopped stealing even though I know it has caused tensions with your family, and you've countlessly given your apologies. You've sacrificed some of the closeness you had to your family for the sake of my friendship. No one could ask for you to do more." He took Akira's hands and laid his other over them. "I'm sorry, Ijyuin san, truly I am."
Akira's vision was blurring a bit as he reached out and hugged the rather unhuggable ninja. "Don't be upset, I forgive you. I could never stay mad at you... you're my friend."
Suoh held him as well, patting his sensitive kohai's back. "Thank you. You're my friend, too. I'm sorry I made you feel otherwise. I... I forgave you a long time ago, I just hadn't forgiven myself for forgiving you... If that makes any since at all," he said with a sigh.
Akira smiled happily through his tears. "No, but that's okay. So long as you've forgiven both of us, now." He didn't want Suoh to dislike himself.
Suoh smiled weakly and nodded. "I think I'm getting there."
Akira tipped his head and gave Suoh a rare serious look through a softened smile. "I guess that's a good step, though I won't be happy till you all the way there," he said with a pat on his shoulder.
Suoh chuckled a bit and nodded. Content that most of the disaster had been resolved, they lapsed in the first comfortable silent they'd shared in years.
Eventually Idomu was wheeled into the room below them and it was time to bring in the next level of the plan. So far so good. It was early morning now and the technicians had yet to arrive, so they quickly jumped down and Suoh reengaged the wheels while Akira checked the hallway. Carefully they moved him to another room down the hall, a room filled with boxes. This was a series of machinery meant to be shipped off to other facilities that thankfully was large and numerous. Quickly and silently they looked through the crate pieces and drug over the ones big enough to encase Idomu's living tomb. It was a challenge getting it into the bottom but they somehow got him sealed just before the crew arrived to remove them. The delivery slip on its side sent it on the truck at the back that they had already paid off.
From the vent above they watched Idomu be carried off on a pallet lift. Once he was long gone, they began to make their way to the first floor, where they slipped outside before the technicians sounded the alert that inexplicitly an entire avatar had vanished.
Nokoru was so focused on the box being unloaded from the supply truck, bringing in "decorations for another party", he didn't see his two friends coming up. He was ringing his hands, jumping every time they jostled him. "Be careful! H- it's fragile! I've told you its fragile!" he shouted as he jumped forward again. The workers were visibly startled to hear Nokoru angry and Suoh stepped forward and pulled him back. "Wha-! Suoh?!"
"Yes we're back. Please calm yourself Rijichou."
He looked about to argue, pointing open mouthed at the work being done, but Akira interjected his time. "They're being as careful as they can." Suoh waved them to continue as Akira drew him back more. "It's okay... I don't... I don't think he can feel it anyway..." Nokoru looked near tears at that, so Akira followed it up quickly. "They're being very gentle with him. It's okay. He's going to be okay; he's safe now."
Nokoru steadied himself and took a deep breath. The strain of this all had been horrible on him, and his will was near breaking. As he walked with Akira and Suoh into the lab that had been set up for him, he watched the harried workers pulled the pallet lift out. "My apologies for my behavior," he said to them as they left. "It was undeserved." They bowed back and left.
Once the doors were closed Suoh and Akira began to pull down the wooden crate to expose the avatar to Nokoru. Though he'd seen the pictures of it was different to reach out and touch the plastic shell that held his dear friend prisoner. "Idomu..." he whispered against the shell and stepped back. "Do we have all the necessary connections?" he asked his two companions. There was a team waiting to assist, but Nokoru wanted a moment in privacy before they were brought in. Idomu had been poked and prodded enough.
When the connections were hooked up, the power was turned on. Idomu had been at his minimal power usage so no one would notice he was active and if something went wrong he could survive for almost a week. As such it took a moment for his power to come fully back online. They had to type into the program to get him to respond. "Hello, Idomu," Nokoru typed.
A tentative, "Whose there" came back to him.
"It's Nokoru. You're safe at Clamp. It worked."
His reply was to suddenly barrage the systems with his data, exploring everything he could reach, turning the cameras to look around the room. "Nokoru?" came the text finally. "It worked?"
With a wide smile Nokoru flipped the switch on a microphone. "Can you hear me?"
There was a pause and the screen replied. "Yes. Yes I can." Again there was a pause and from the speakers came a voice that Nokoru hadn't heard in years... thought he would never hear again. "Thank you... Nokoru."
Nokoru walked back to the black case and laid his hands on it. "You're safe now..." he muttered as he leaned forward to rest his forehead against him.