Jean had returned home to the castle to deliver a report to the others. Seo and the twins had headed back to the arboretum. Miya had graciously offered to let Clark, Musubi and Kusano stay at the inn as it would save on the commute tomorrow, she even allowed him to share a room with his Sekirei.
Clark made a mental note to see if Yukari was free tomorrow to get Musubi some nightclothes after she had crawled into bed and only then did he realise she was naked.
He was just grateful that Miya had taken Ku to sleep with her.
He thought about asking Uzume for help but after she walked into his room naked by mistake… he decided against it.
It was nearly two in the morning when all the lights in the Inn came on. Clark was instantly up followed by a fairly bleary eyed Musubi who was dressed in his shirt and her panties at his insistence. Clark was at the door where he saw Homura, Uzume, Miya and a very scared Kusano at their doors. Kusano headed straight for him and latched onto his waist like a limpet.
"Uzume! Put some damned clothes on!" Homura hissed quietly.
"Oops." She said before vanishing back inside.
"What's happening?" Clark asked.
"Something has tripped the wards." Miya explained. "Takehito placed them years ago."
"Where's Matsu?" Uzume asked as she returned to the corridor dressed in sweats.
Clark's head swung to the secret door that he had seen Matsu disappear into as they all headed for bed mere hours earlier. He activated his x-ray vision.
"Someone has her." He frowned before he handed Ku to Musubi. "Stay here, Musubi will keep you safe."
Musubi nodded firmly.
"I'll help her." Uzume offered as she crossed over to the other side of the corridor and Clark's room.
"Stay here." Clark ordered.
"This is my home to defend." Miya argued.
"And I will hand the intruder over to you, but I can at least get Matsu out before they realise she is gone."
Miya clearly didn't like it but nodded in assent.
Clark blurred away, smashing the secret door to smithereens, he had Matsu in his arms and back with Homura before the debris of the door had moved ten inches, he was back in the room by the time they passed a foot he had the intruder on the floor with their arms pinned behind their back and helpless under Clark's super strength.
It was a silver haired woman, dressed in a ragged and torn kimono but her entire body was covered in bandages, her hands were encased in metallic claws.
"Haihane." Miya spat. "Why have you come here?"
"It doesn't matter. When Number Four finds out I failed she will level your precious inn and take the thief back to MBI." The woman said dispassionately.
"Two questions, one: Who is Number Four?" Clark asked.
"Karasuba, the Black Sekirei and the leader of the Disciplinary Squad." Matsu answered. "She is very strong and fast, only Miya could defeat her… but the fight would level Tokyo."
Clark nodded. "Second question: How did they find out about Matsu and the secret room?"
There was silence as nobody had an answer to that.
"Ok, you, Haihane, how did you know about Matsu?" Clark asked the woman still restrained under his knee.
She chuckled with a slight mania. "You'll never know."
"I will make her talk." Miya snarled.
"With torture? I don't think Takehito would approve of you doing that. Not when there are better, more efficient and much easier methods." Clark reasoned.
"Fine, what do you suggest?" She asked, clearly disappointed.
"I'll get Jean. She can take the information right out of her mind. It'll take me about five minutes to get there though so secure the building."
Clark and Jean discovered that five minutes was five minutes too long as they arrived to find Haihane dead. Homura and Musubi were fighting a short redhead with a crazed look in her eye and Miya was exchanging devastating blows in a sword fight with a tall silver haired woman. Uzume and Matsu were standing guard over Kusano.
Izumo Inn was gone. Only the back wall resembled anything like a structure where as other three walls had collapsed taking the second floor with it.
"Jean, can you do anything?" Clark asked as he prepared to move in and help Miya who seemed to be in the most danger considering the swords involved. The red head was only using fists.
"I can't control them, but I am getting snippets of information. They are on orders from Minaka Hiroto to capture Matsu, kill Miya and yourself and retrieve the crystal. The crystal is their priority."
"I'll handle Miya's opponent and then help Homura. Talk to Matsu, get her, Kusano and the crystal back to the castle… or even better, see if Dad will grant her sanctuary at Themiscyra." Clark ordered.
"On it." Jean responded as she headed off.
Clark focused on Miya and her battle. Her opponent was very skilled, he doubted he could match her if he was any weaker as she was exceptionally strong and fast and her skill was impressive. Miya seemed to be substantially better but was holding back for some reason.
Clark had his hammer in his hand as he rushed forward. He charged the hammer with lightning and struck.
He was shocked when the woman raised her sword to deflect the blow, but Clark's strength was greater and combined with the lightning that transferred down her katana she was even more shocked… literally.
She went flying into the remains of the back wall, bringing it down on top of her.
"This is my fight!" Miya said angrily.
"Nobody fights alone if they don't have to. Takehito's rules." Clark said calmly as he kept his gaze fixed on the pile of rubble that hid the woman. "If you want to fight about it you can train me later. You are an exceptional swordswoman and Takehito is always looking to get me more training and better sparring partners."
Miya was about to respond when the debris exploded outwards to reveal a very angry woman standing there.
"Stand down and surrender, I don't want to hurt you." Clark ordered.
"I'd like to see you try human." The woman spat, she tried to take a step forward but her foot wouldn't move. She looked down and saw with horror that her feet where submerged in the solid floor up to the ankles. She was still sinking.
Clark and Miya watched in horror as the woman sank all the way down to her neck and she began to scream in terror. Then a bolt of red came from Clark's left hitting her in the head knocking her out.
Clark and Miya spun to the source of the red bolt to see a large muscled man dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt.
"Neville Longbottom, at your service." He said in crisp British tones… it sounded weird in Japanese.
"Erm… Hi. And thanks." Clark said. He had heard many stories about Neville from Harry. Neville was clearly considered Harry's adopted brother.
"It was nothing. Xander did most of the work." Neville said indicating the tall lanky figure rising out of the ground behind the submerged woman.
"Just like old times, eh Nev?" Xander smiled happily.
"You aren't wearing your Death's Hand garb." Neville pointed out.
"Ah yes, I'll try and remember that for next time."
"And the lightsabre."
"Hell! I'd forgotten about that!" Xander snapped his fingers in annoyance. "I need to wait for Harry to make me one."
Neville just smirked and handed over a metal tube with runes on it.
"You knew how to make these… wait, this is my old one."
"Harry asked me to look after it for you after you passed on. He thought I might be able to use it."
"Well keep it then!" Xander insisted as he handed it back.
"I'm fine without it. When you next pass on I'll resume custodianship of you weapon." Neville smiled.
"Can we focus on the second fighter?" Clark asked as he indicated the ongoing battle between Homura and the red head that had spilled out onto the street.
"Go break her back or something, I'll heal her up." Neville shrugged.
Clark nodded and sped off.
Xander turned to grin at Miya. "So, you're my newest daughter-in-law."
Jonathan was trying not to blush as much as the girls were as he walked into the throne room with Anna and her squad of guards behind him. Anna was simply trying not to laugh.
"Alright ladies, I don't know why you bothered bringing bags, you are here to live as Amazons." He said as he indicated the duffels they had packed. He was wearing a toga himself.
"We weren't sure what to bring." Helen shrugged.
"Well, never mind. Phoebe" he indicated a brown haired woman, "will be taking you to the barracks where the young Amazons stay for training. The good news is that Thor and Loki brought a time travel device with them, this means that you can stay for a few years and become full Amazons and still return to this point in time as though nothing happened." Jonathan smiled.
"And the bad news?" Chloe asked warily.
"I've watched these ladies train. It won't be easy."
"But worth it." Chloe said firmly.
"Agreed." He assured them, especially Lana and Tess who were looking nervous.
The residents of the castle and Izumo Inn had travelled to the mansion Clark was staying at in Tokyo through the magicals teleporting them. Jean had also grabbed Logan and the twins in case they were attacked.
Haihane's corpse was placed in stasis to be dealt with later whilst the other silver haired woman, Karasuba, and the red head, Benitsubasa, we bound and tied up ready for interrogation.
Miya was squirming under the intense questioning of her father-in-law and brother-in-law. She may not be human, but she was raised in a Japanese culture and she found herself submitting to their questioning… although she was aware they were teasing her.
This is why Homura, Matsu and Uzume were staring in disbelief at the sight of the very timid Miya Asama; they never imagined a timid Miya could exist.
Scott and Emma had joined them and Clark received a surprise when he was tackled and bowled over.
"Hi there Clark."
"Kyla? What are you doing here?" Clark asked as he looked up at the girl straddling him on the floor of the kitchen.
"All my friends are either in comas, on Themiscyra or in Japan… this way I get to spend more time in the adventure you call life." She smiled.
"You realise I took a scythe to the back last night? It was a very painful 'adventure'."
"I'm a trained Amazon Clark. I took my fair share of sword and spear wounds."
"Really? No scars?" He asked as he checked her bare arms.
"They have this thing they call a 'purple ray'… it's exactly what it sounds like… but it heals you up nicely." She shrugged. "Plus magic."
"Where's Mom and Lex?" Clark asked.
Kyla stood up from her position straddling Clark and helped him up. "Lex is staying behind because he still has the plant to run and needs to keep up appearances. Martha is staying to deal with the farm. A few of my sisters are staying with her to help out."
"You have sisters?"
"Amazons Clark. We are a sisterhood."
"Ah."
"So, I hear you made some new 'friends'." She said teasingly.
"Oh god. Come on, I'll introduce you." Clark groaned as he led her to Musubi.
"Hey Musubi, this is Kyla, my girlfriend and first soul mate." Clark said.
Musubi just looked at him in bewilderment. "What are you saying? Oh! Is that English? I can't wait to learn English!" She said happily.
"Erm…" Clark was unsure just how to proceed, Kyla didn't speak Japanese and Musubi didn't speak English and he himself had trouble realising what language he was speaking. "Does anyone know a translation spell for Kyla?" He called out to the room at large.
"Nev, you're up." Xander grinned as he slapped the man on the back.
Neville just rolled his eyes as he stood. "Play nice with my sister-in-law." He ordered Xander, who just gazed up at him innocently. "Jean, come here and protect Miya from Xander." He called out to the telepath.
"Alright, so you don't know the spell?"
"Harry never taught us." Kyla shrugged.
"That's because he prefers to learn the language… and he was always too lazy to learn the spell. He would be more likely to place a general translation spell on you and be done with it. The only problem with that is you will never know if someone is speaking a different language to you, if you get recorded on tape then they will hear you having a conversation in two languages." Neville explained.
"I thought Harry knew every spell there was." Kyla queried.
"He probably does know it." Neville smiled. "But back when we were just a pair of fifteen year olds trying to change the world, he would drag me to Africa with him and make me perform the translation spell on him. I think he refuses to use it himself as a form of tradition now."
"Harry is crazy." Clark sighed.
"Yes, but that's all Xander's fault."
"Hey, don't blame me for all of that!" Xander piped up from the other side of the room. "He spent millions of years alone in solitude, I think that had a bigger affect than me."
"No, I can honestly say that isn't true." Neville smirked.
"Um…. What about Nym, huh? She was just as nuts as me!" Xander argued.
"No, she was just nuts about you."
"This- This is not over Neville Longbottom! I will prove you wrong!" Xander declared theatrically.
Kyla was soon brought up to speed on the translation charm with instruction to remove it when she was back in America but to also teach the others.
"Ok, we need a plan. Jean says that Minaka had the Inn bugged and also has bugs in every TV in the city." Clark started the meeting as they sat around a conjured table in the sitting room.
"Is that why you threw all electronics out of the house just now? Uzume asked. "Because I was really hoping to catch the latest episode of Waterboys."
"You too!" Hikari said excitedly. "We will make Logan take us home tomorrow so we can watch it."
The sound of an adamentium-laced skull banging repeatedly on the table was ignored.
"Moving on… Minaka now knows that Matsu has the crystal, apparently known as a 'Jinki'. I'm open to suggestions on how to proceed."
"It's a shame Harry isn't here, he could assume Minaka's form and replace him." Xander sighed.
"We need to end this now. If you have the power to take out Minaka you have the power to end The Game." Homura said earnestly.
"Game? What game?" Emma asked.
"Minaka decided to pit the Sekirei against each other. They would eliminate each other until only one remained." Miya scowled. "It goes against everything Takehito stood for."
"I'll say it does." Scott muttered. "Let's put a plan together people."
Lex had just finished his day at the plant, he didn't want to go home to Lana's old house as it was empty and he wanted some company. So he headed to the Kent farm to offer his help and spend some time with Martha, Thor and Loki.
He pulled into the driveway and got out of his Porsche to hear a man shouting and berating others in what he thought was Greek, but it was a strange dialect, he cast a translation charm on himself.
"I am your Queen! Not that upstart!" Lex was fairly certain he knew that voice, not just because he didn't know of another man who would claim to be a 'Queen'. "You will show me respect when in my presence."
Lex walked into the barn to see four Amazon women he didn't know looking somewhat scared of the male Hippolyta. The women were all dressed in a variety of shirts and jeans so they wouldn't stand out if someone visited.
"So you treat women just as badly as you treat men." Lex announced his presence with an accusation.
Hippolyta spun around and sneered at Lex. "Another man." She said in English. "How many of these girls have you raped so far?"
"Wow." Lex said as he reared back in surprise. "That is the most disgusting accusation I have ever been hit with. I'm going to recommend that Harry either kills you or makes you into a baby with no knowledge of whom you are. Which is the same as death for you."
The Amazon women gasped in shock as they understood Lex perfectly thanks to his translation charm.
"The goddesses will never permit such a thing." She sneered, still in English.
"The goddesses were the ones who stripped you of your crown and then turned you into a man. The Goddess Aphrodite also warned you what would happen if you continued this way."
Hippolyta snarled and spun on the Amazons switching back to Ancient Greek. "Subdue the man, we will use him as a hostage to bargain for our return to Themiscyra."
The women just stared at her.
A bolt of red light hit the out of control Hippolyta and she dropped to the floor like a rock.
"Martha is on her way." Lex assured the even more scared women.
A second later Martha appeared with Aphrodite at her side.
Lex turned and bowed low as did the Amazons. "My Lady, I didn't realise you were coming."
Aphrodite just smiled. "Rise my children." She said as she nudged Lex's shoulders up so he was standing straight. She kissed his cheek causing the usually unflappable Lex to blush. "Thank you for defending my Amazons." She told him.
"For all my previous malcontent ways, I would never hurt a woman like that." Lex inclined his head.
Aphrodite nodded. "I was already here as I like to spend some time with Martha and Jonathan helping on the farm. With both her husband gone and Dani and Amara unavailable she needs the help and I enjoy farming, it is much like being a Goddess of Love. One must plant the seeds and nurture the growth whilst defending from weeds and pests."
"And the animals seem to love her too." Martha smiled.
"Even a calf loves it's mother as much as a human child does the same." She explained. "It would seem Hippolyta is unable to change. Like many of the abused she has become the abuser. As you said Lex, we will place her in stasis until Lord Death returns to make his decision.
"Come with me Lex, the stables need cleaning and I must confess that I do so love the smell of manure."
Lex laughed until he noticed that none of the others were laughing and although Aphrodite was smiling serenely, the others were cringing in expectation of the goddesses' reaction.
"You're serious?" Lex asked.
"Even the gods have their quirks." She smiled as she led him away.
The plan to deal with Minaka was to have Clark and Emma enter the MBI building and request a meeting with Minaka. If they were rebuffed then Emma would telepathically force the issue.
So Clark got dressed up in his finest suit, that Neville had to conjure for him, and Emma was dressed in a jaw-dropping white ensemble that looked as professional as it did indecent with it's short white skirt and white silk blouse that was unbuttoned to her naval and showing quite clearly that she wasn't wearing a bra.
This didn't faze Clark, not after dealing with Musubi over the past few days.
They had decided to take a limo from the ruins of the Inn where the others were going to begin rebuilding. Miya insisted that everything be done by hand just as Harry had done when he built the place with Logan.
The ride in the limo was fairly nerve wracking for Clark. He was used to fighting people in physical combat, he had no idea how to handle business matters, no matter what Harry and Lex tried to show him.
Twenty minutes into the journey the limo was flipped into the air and only Clark's reflexes enabled him to grab Emma and shield her with his body before she was thrown around like a shoe in a tumble dryer. When the car stopped spinning it landed on its roof.
"Emma, are you ok?"
"I believe so." She said as Clark released her. "Someone out there is very angry and intent on killing you, Mr. Kent." She frowned. "Please deal with her before she injures anyone else, I will see to the driver."
Clark nodded the pushed the door open, he could hear the metal tearing as the buckled metal was nearly fused together.
Outside was a bright day and there were no clouds in the sky. Many people were staring at the wreckage or taking photos on their phones. Clark couldn't believe that people could be so callous.
As he exited the car he scanned the area, he ignored Emma as she exited behind him and headed for the driver's door.
They had come to a stop at what appeared to be a major crossroad; the cars were backed up due to the crash. Walking down the road towards him was the same woman that he had seen fighting Homura that first night and also in his dreams, the same woman that attacked him in his hotel room.
"Emma, can you get Jean to contact me?" Clark called over his shoulder.
There was no response as he heard the driver door being wrenched open.
"Clark, Emma filled me in, what do you need?" Jean's voice sounded in his head.
"Can you see through my eyes? There is a woman walking down the road towards me. She's been appearing in my dreams with Matsu and Homura and others, can you find out from those two what they know about this woman and why she keeps trying to attack me. She got me kicked out of the hotel because she attacked me."
"At last I have found you foul monkey!" The woman declared as she pointed a finger at Clark. "Now I will destroy you, never shall you take my bo- ahhh!" She fell to her knees as her cheeks flushed.
"Clark, chances are she's another possible Sekirei for you, her name is Tsukiumi, Number 9. She uses water attacks."
"Is there a reason she seems to want me dead?"
"She hates all Ashikabis. You have the greatest chance of being hers so…"
"There had to be one." Clark sighed. "I'll see if I can sort this out without levelling half of Tokyo. Oh, and Jean?"
"Yes Clark."
"Tell Kyla to stop laughing at me."
He suddenly heard Jean chuckling in his head. "How did you know, she was gobsmacked."
"Our bond is getting stronger, I can feel her."
"Wow, even Harry and his girls can't feel each other like that."
"It's not unpleasant, just new. I'll have Emma contact you when we're done."
"Look Tsukiumi, if you don't want to be my Sekirei then that's fine. But if you keep trying to kill me and cause damage to the city and others then we will have a problem."
Tsukiumi had managed to climb back to her feet. "So you know my name monkey. But I have not granted you leave to use it! You will pay for your insolence! Water Celebration!" She shouted causing torrent of water to come pouring towards him.
Clark knelt down and planted his hands on the floor bracing himself.
A good ten seconds of tidal wave encompassed him before fading away and he stood.
"What sorcery is this?" Tsukiumi demanded. "I am the strongest there is!"
"Good Lord, she sounds like Bruce back in the beginning." Emma commented as she walked up beside Clark.
"Is this another you have defiled you man?"
"Actually, I take it back. She sounds like Hippolyta."
"Got a plan?" Clark asked quietly.
"Darling, I always have plans, plans for all occasions. I even have one for seducing you should you turn evil." She said dismissively as she sauntered past Clark with a sway in her hips. Clark closed his eyes and counted to ten. Emma was as evil as her daughters.
"Listen girl, you had better have evidence to back up the accusations you just levelled at my student." Emma warned Tsukiumi.
"He is a man. A monkey man at that! I can feel him trying to seduce me even now. I feel it in my breast." Tsukiumi snapped.
"Has he sought you out? Has he made any effort to contact or approach you?" Emma demanded. "No! You were the one who approached him! You attacked him when he didn't even know you existed."
"Yes but-"
"Has he made any overt or definable attempts on you? Anything other than what you claim to 'feel' in your breast?"
"No, but-"
"Then make a choice you silly little girl. This is Takehito Asama's apprentice. He has three Sekirei already who have willingly come to him. You, if you can see past you stupidity, have also sought him out. Either be his Sekirei or leave him alone but don't come to us claiming that he has slighted you or has designs on you when he hasn't even asked for your name." Emma spun on the heel of her white stilettos and walked up to Clark.
"Come dear, the alternate limo has arrived." She said, completely ignoring the utterly bewildered Sekirei Number 9.
Clark didn't move though as he stood there with his arms folded and a hand to his chin in thought.
"Mr. Kent?"
"One moment, Miss Frost." Clark said absently as he walked towards the still motionless and unsure Tsukiumi. He got to within a foot of her as she eyed him warily. "You don't want an Ashikabi, why?"
She managed to get her ire up again, but was still unsure. "As if I would allow any man, monkey or otherwise to claim me! To use and debase me as his!"
"You are aware that if I don't make you my Sekirei then someone else could come along force you to be their Sekirei… what if someone had multiple Sekirei and overpowered you?"
Tsukiumi visibly paled at that.
"Allow me to give you a gift then." Clark said as he moved in swiftly and kissed her on the lips allowing.
Emma watched from behind Clark a few feet away with a raised eyebrow as wings of light and water erupted from the other blondes back. She was curious about Clark's reasoning for this route.
Clark broke the kiss as the wings faded leaving a slack-jawed Tsukiumi staring at him. "I release you from any bonds or duties you think I may be entitled to as your Ashikabi. I leave you with only my protection as your bound Ashikabi and my blessing to go forth and live your life so long as you are respectful of all others and the law." Clark then spun on his heel and walked back to Emma and the waiting backup limo.
"You are aware that could come back to bite you?" Emma queried.
"I have a feeling it was going to do that anyway, at least this way I tried to help her." He said as he held the door open for her.
Work on the inn was moving quite well. It was midday and they had already cleared away most of the debris. Jean had retrieved Kusano and Matsu from the castle and they now had quite the team at work. Neville had taken little Ku and begun talking to her about plants and how she could use them and play with them. She actually became the one to do the most work on the building with Musubi and Kyla right behind her with their strength.
Xander and Logan were now measuring for the materials they would need to build a traditional style Japanese inn.
"I am not sure you should do this. If Takehito is to return, perhaps he will want to do so himself." Miya said nervously, unwilling to argue with her father-in-law.
"Relax Miya, consider this a belated wedding gift from me." Xander smiled reassuringly.
They had set up a table to draw up blueprints and write down the measurements by the entrance in the fence. The others were around the back dealing with the debris or preparing lunch.
"Erm, excuse me… I really don't mean to intrude, but is Clark Kent around here?"
The trio turned to see a short dark-haired girl in a school uniform with a slightly younger boy dressed in long black shorts and white shirt with white hair.
"Yukari? What are you doing here?" Logan asked.
Yukari tried to ignore the glare coming from Miya. "Hi Seo, I was going to introduce you to Clark today, he was searching for information on Takehito. I can't reach him on his cell phone and you weren't at the Arboretum so I thought I'd try here. He was planning on visiting Miya."
"Yeah, ran into Clark last night. Had ourselves a little party. Raised the roof a bit… really brought the house down." Logan said blandly as he folded his arms.
Yukari leaned to the side slightly to look at the demolished inn behind Logan. "Some party."
"Damn straight." Logan smirked. "Now, what are you doing here with 107?" He nodded to the boy standing meekly behind her.
"You know Sheena?" She brightened up as the aforementioned Sheena's eyes widened worriedly.
"I know the names, numbers and abilities of all the Sekirei kid. 108 is back there with the others." Logan said dismissively.
"Ku is here?" Sheena asked excitedly as he stepped forward.
"Round back, go on." Logan gave a small smile. "You stay here girl, we aren't done talking." He stopped Yukari with a hand on her shoulder.
Sheena skidded to a halt a meter or so away.
"Don't worry Sheena, Seo is like an uncle." Yukari assured him.
Sheena gave the three adults a long look before nodding and running off. "KU!"
"SHEENA!"
"I think it's safe to say they found each other." Xander smirked.
"Yeah… just wish they weren't so loud about it." Logan grimaced.
"I feel your pain." Xander patted Logan on the back.
"Alright kid, you seem to have gained yourself a Sekirei. Any reason you haven't made him emerge yet?" Logan asked sternly.
"Look, I didn't know about Sekirei and Ashikabi until I met Clark and Musubi yesterday. Sheena said I might be his Ashikabi. It didn't seem like something to rush into."
"You know the boy is going to be at risk and hunted by other Ashikabis wanting to claim and use him as long as he is unbound, right?"
"But Clark wouldn't-"
"Clark is the best you can find. Just like you wouldn't try and force someone. But Ashikabis are regular humans. They can be as evil as the next person."
"YOU!"
They spun around to see Kusano dragging Sheena behind them whilst Neville and Matsu followed with amused smiles.
"Why haven't you kissed my Sheena?" Kusano demanded as she marched up to Yukari.
"I-I-I-"
"Ku, it's ok, honestly." Sheena tried to reason.
"Nuh ah! She's supposed to be your Ashikabi, she's supposed to take care of you!" Kusano said petulantly.
"Ku, this is something Yukari and Sheena need to decide for themselves, ok?" Xander said as he knelt in front of the little girl. "They're smart people, trust them to do the right thing."
Kusano sagged and pouted. "Ok."
"Of course there's no reason you can't put them in a plant room till they do the right thing." He winked at her.
"Hey, what?" Yukari demanded.
But a huge smile lit up Ku's face as roots shot up from the ground and encased the girl and boy.
Ku wrapped her tiny arms around Xander's neck. "Thank you Grandfather." She said happily.
"Your welcome sweetheart. Now you go ahead and finish getting lunch ready and we'll let you know when they are done." He said as he gave her a little pat on the backside.
Ku grabbed Neville and Matsu by the hand and skipped off with them.
"You are one evil son of a- OW! Dammit woman!"
"There will be no swearing in Izumo Inn!"
"There is no Izumo Inn! We are building the damned in!" Logan whined as he rubbed the receding bump where the ladle had struck his head.
Miya just tapped the ladle against the palm of her free hand.
"So… the south wall." Logan said quickly.
MBI and Minaka definitely didn't want Clark or Emma in the building. First the receptionist had tried to get them to leave. Emma had mentally forced them to take them to the elevator. They had activated the private elevator that would take them to Minaka's penthouse on the top floors with smiles and bows.
But then it was clear that Minaka was willing to take drastic measures when the elevator first came to a dead stop and then began to plummet to the ground from around the thirtieth floor. Emma had disabled the cameras and surveillance whilst Clark exited through the emergency hatch up top and then pulled the elevator up to the top through his power of flight and then welded the brakes in place.
As they exited the elevator at the top floor they were met with a barrage of gunfire from assault rifles and sub-machine guns. Clark moved in front of Emma whilst she slipped into her diamond form. This meant that she was unable to use her telepathy in this form so she resorted to an area effect stunner that sent the armed guards to the ground in a heap. Unfortunately one of the guards had too tight a grip on the trigger of his submachine gun as he went down and several of the guards in front of him received bullets in the back and ass.
Considering the choice these men had made she was reluctant to save them, but she just rolled her eyes at Clark's glare and stopped the bleeding. She didn't bother removing the bullets though.
"Those men made their choice, Mr. Kent." Emma argued as they ascended the last set of simple stairs.
"That doesn't mean they deserved to die! They might not have realised what was happening, they might not have been given all the facts."
"We were two clearly unarmed people who had caused no injuries or damage as we entered the building and elevator."
"But were they told that?"
"Of course they were, Clark! They are the elite; they will die without the right Intel. They are intelligent people hired and entrusted to protect Minaka Hiroto, they knew exactly what they signed up for." She stated as she violently sent the door flying off its hinges with a burst of magic.
"This isn't the penthouse." Clark frowned. They were standing on the same balcony that they had seen Harry vanish from in Matsu's memories.
"Scan the area." Emma ordered.
Clark began to view the area with x-ray vision when a loud rumbling sounded through the air and shook the building. Steam and smoke poured from just beneath the clock tower above them.
"That things a rocket!" Clark exclaimed as he grabbed hold of Emma to hold her steady. They watched as the entire clock tower section of the building launched off of the building and into the air.
"Clark, I suggest you-" *BOOM* "- What the devil is going on now." Emma demanded as the building began to shake with explosions.
"The building is rigged with explosives." Clark muttered. "We need to-"
"You need to get Minaka, we will handle the building. Minaka and the other crystals are the priority."
"But the innocent-"
"Will be nothing compared to the carnage and mayhem if you fail to rescue Harry. Death must return Clark." She told him earnestly.
Clark didn't like it but he knew she as right. He briefly crouched down before blasting into the air with so much force that he not only cracked the roof top but sent Emma sailing straight off the edge of the building. Fortunately she could fly with magic… Clark would suffer for it later though.
Having spent so much time around Harry, Jonathan Kent was nearly back to his physical prime. He was looking almost a decade younger… but still older than his teenage son… fortunately. Although magic was great around the farm he still found he enjoyed doing most things by hand, something he found that Amara, Dani and even Aphrodite preferred. There was just something very fulfilling about working your muscles and completing a job with aches that only a good bath or shower could fix. Often times Jonathan would return to the house to find Dani, Amara and Martha in some sort of massaging triangle in the living room as they worked on each other's feet.
He usually took the opportunity to use the amazing shower system that Dani had installed for them and managed to stay out of trouble.
His newfound vitality meant that he could keep up with the Amazons on some of their basic training. He could jog on the beach in the mornings, stretch with them afterwards and they even managed to teach him some sparring moves.
Jonathan loved staying on the island. It was as though Aphrodite had gifted him with lots of daughter, nieces, sisters and so on. What really made him happy was the fact that not a single Amazon resented him for being a man. He didn't realise it but the Amazons loved him as family, the uncle, brother and father they never knew they missed out on.
On this particular day it was just breaking dawn and the Amazons were treating the new recruits to their first morning jog on the beach. Jonathan was with them as he was a firm believer in never asking someone to do what he wouldn't.
All of the girls were used to being up at the crack of dawn and burning the midnight oil. Lana had tended stables during her holidays, Chloe was always up early working on the latest edition of the Torch, Helen was a doctor… enough said, and Tess had developed a healthy work ethic.
Any reservations they had about jogging at the crack of dawn were quickly put to death by the beautiful sight of the morning sun rising over the Atlantic and bathing the paradise island of Themiscyra in it's radiant glow.
It was sort of spoilt by the sight of Superman heading to the island with some sort of space capsule over his head. This capsule was easily the size of a small house and Clark was showing no trouble in holding it.
"I know we've seen and done some incredible things with magic… but tell me that's not impressive beyond belief." Helen said as she and the others were trying to catch their breath.
"He does make quite the entrance." Tess agreed.
Jonathan, meanwhile, had flown up to intercept Clark and find out what was happening.
"Son, I hope you aren't planning on dumping trash on the island." He said with mock severity.
"Unfortunately yes. This capsule holds Minaka Hiroto, the man who attacked Death. I need somewhere and someone to hold onto him. I was hoping the Amazon nation would imprison him whilst I wrap things up in Tokyo, I'll be taking the capsule back with me though."
"You realise it's a death sentence for any man who steps on the island and isn't given permission from Aphrodite?" Jonathan warned.
"His fate has already been decided. There isn't anything any of us can do to stop it. We learnt that with this world's Thor. All I'm asking is that you guard him and hold off the execution so Death himself can deal with it." Clark reasoned.
"This whole Death thing still doesn't sit well with me." Jonathan scowled. "I just can't condone killing someone like that."
"Me neither, I had to convince Emma to prevent the deaths of some guards who managed to injure themselves… although they were trying to kill us." Clark allowed.
"The Amazons would consider it an honour to serve the gods in this way and imprison this monster on behalf of the Gods and Aspects."
Jonathan spun in the air to see Anna and her guards hovering there.
"You could have said you were there!" Jonathan gasped as he clutched his chest due to shock.
Anna just smirked. "You should have assumed we would follow you, Lord Regent. We cannot protect you from afar."
Jonathan turned back to his son only to see him wearing what can only be called: 'A shit eating grin'.
"It is not that funny." Jonathan half whined.
"It is to me." Clark smiled.
"Whatever, get that man out of there."
Clark lowered the capsule to the sandy beach. "I'm going to rip the door open. Take a shot at him to stun him. He is a super genius and this thing already tried to electrocute me and fire some sort of plasma energy at me. I wouldn't put it past him to have booby trapped his clothes."
"Alright Clark, on my mark: Three, two, one, go!"
There was a horrible wrenching sound as Clark ripped the door from the capsule; it was followed up by Jonathan sending several red bolts of magic into the interior.
Then there was a soft thud.
"Got him." Jonathan said as he took a step forward to retrieve the now unconscious Minato Hiroto only to have a firm hand clamp down on his shoulder.
"Going somewhere, Lord Regent?" Anna asked with a serious look. "Don't you even think about it Lord Kal-El!" She snapped causing the caped hero to freeze with a foot raised to enter the capsule. "We've lost enough to this monster without risking you both. My women will retrieve the prisoner."
Both males looked about to argue… then they noticed the identical glares on every woman standing behind Anna.
"Fine… but you had better not die, Harry isn't here to fix you." Jonathan warned.
Lex was currently standing in a large conference room. His lawyers had told him that he needed to give a deposition regarding the current issues between his estranged father and himself. Lex had said that he was happy to have nothing to do with the Luthors but apparently Lionel and Lucas were trying to take everything he had.
Lex wasn't worried as Amara had worked the contracts and Loki was sitting next to him ready to lend her legal knowledge. They soon arrived at the law firm employed by the Luthors. Lex still had an account with them for business matters but he preferred to pay Amara for her time on his personal issues.
"Before we begin, Mr. Lionel Luthor would like a private moment with Mr. Matheson." The Senior Partner of the firm, Mr. Cuthbert, stated. He didn't appear to be asking.
"Not going to happen." Loki said dismissively as she placed her briefcase on the conference table.
"Young lady, I was talking to Mr. Matheson." Cuthbert glared at her.
"You may address me as Miss Odinson." She said imperiously as she became every bit the Asgardian Princess she was. "A meeting between my client and Mr. Luthor… any Luthor, is highly inappropriate and will be seen as an attempt at intimidation."
Cuthbert decided to ignore the little bitch and turned to Lex. "Mr. Luthor wishes to see if an agreement can be reached without litigation. He promises that he will try to be fair and reasonable."
"I might as well hear him out, Loki. The worst he can do is annoy me." Lex shrugged.
"I advise against this, Lex. If you intend to go through with this then make sure you keep a tight rein on what you say. Monosyllabic is your watchword." She warned.
"Right." He said with a smirk.
Loki returned the smirk. "I will wait here."
"Very well, lead the way." Lex sighed as he turned to the Senior Partner.
Loki watched with a cold chill in her stomach as Lex walked off.
Cuthbert opened the door for Lex but did not follow. Inside was a windowless room with nothing but a second door on the opposite wall. There was no furniture, just Lionel and Lucas Luthor.
Lex stepped inside and the door was shut behind him, he frowned when he heard it lock. He waited for Lionel to say something, he had every intention of abiding by Loki's advice, he could probably talk his way through anything but he didn't want to risk it.
"Lex, thank you so much for agreeing to this meeting." Lionel smiled broadly.
He waited for a response from Lex but Lex just looked at him expectantly.
"Straight down to business I see, very well. I'll make this simple Lex; I have two choices for you. First you rejoin the family and we combine our assets and make the Luthors the greatest name on the planet."
"No." Lex said emotionlessly.
"A shame." Lionel said, but his sincerity was lacking. "Very well, the second option is for you to sign over control of LexCorp and all your assets and I won't demand the courts garnish your earnings to make up for every Luthor penny you spent." He said as he clasped his hands behind his back.
"No."
"Is that all you're gonna say?" Lucas demanded angrily. "All I ever heard about was how great Lex was and how he was the heir to the Luthor fortune. Everywhere I went since I was old enough to understand it all. But this is the truth? You are nothing compared to me!"
"Lucas!" Lionel snapped.
Lex couldn't resist smirking at his younger half-brother who was scowling away. But he still said nothing.
"I assume you will not change your mind?" Lionel asked as he turned back to Lex.
"Correct. Goodbye." Lex said as he turned to open the door he had remained standing in front of. It was still locked so he knocked politely and waited.
"Actually, we are not quite done." Lionel said with a hint of smarm.
Lex sighed and turned around.
"I had to be prepared for you not cooperating. It saddens me to do this Lex it really does." Lionel said as he turned to open the opposite door.
Lex noticed Lucas was grinning happily and he began to wonder if maybe he intended to try and produce another illegitimate child or even claim Lex had a child.
What walked through the door made Lex's blood run cold.
Standing in the opposite doorway was an exact copy of himself.
"You have no idea what you've done." Lex said in a near whisper as he watched the other him smirk at him. "You made a clone."
"I can't believe I allowed myself to become so… weak." The clone sneered. "You actually let others control you and dictate how to do things. Luthors lead!"
"So this is why you wanted me alone… so you could replace me with a clone." Lex said as he braced himself for a fight. He didn't want to reveal magic but he knew he could erase their memories if he needed to. The priority was getting rid of the clone before it could do any damage.
"At least I haven't become totally inept." The clone sighed. It moved so quickly that Lex never realised it.
He never heard the gunshot.
Never felt the bullet slam through his forehead and into his brain.
Lex Matheson never realised he was dead as he crumpled to the floor, lifeless.
The sight of his lifeless body saddened the soul of Lex Matheson. But what really upset him was that he would never get to marry Helen, never be able to warn Helen and Tess of what had happened. He knew that once Harry got back he would see that a clone was there and deal with it, but for now his family was safe with Jonathan Kent on Themiscyra.
But then he noticed someone else in the room he couldn't see before… maybe he had earned his reward.
"I thought we were going to pump him for information first!" Lucas snapped.
*BANG*
Lucas Luthor fell to the ground just as dead as his half-brother.
"What are you doing?" Lionel demanded as he snatched the gun from the clone's hand.
"There is only one heir to the Luthor fortune. Don't ever forget that, Father." The new Lex Luthor stated blandly. "I'll wait to decide what to do about my dear sister." He said mockingly.
"There will be no more unnecessary killing!" Lionel growled. "Now get out of here whilst I arrange for this mess to be cleared up."
"As you wish." Lex shrugged. As he opened the door with a key he paused and without looking back said: "Please be out of the Mansion before eight tonight. I refuse to sleep in some little bitches bed."
Lionel just glared at his "son's" back as he exited.
Loki sat impatiently waiting for Lex to reappear. She had already tampered with the video cameras to show nothing but soap operas and all the chairs to either collapse or act like whoopee cushions.
She was the Goddess of Mischief after all.
After about ten minutes she saw Lex march back into the conference room, Cuthbert was not with him. The look on his face did not look good, he appeared very closed off.
"How did it go?" She asked.
"I have come to an arrangement with my father. I will no longer need your services. I trust you can find your own way out." He said as he continued walking without missing a beat.
"Excuse me?!" Loki screeched. "Just who do you think you are talking to?"
"My former attorney." Lex said as he walked through the door and slammed it behind him.
Loki just fumed as she grabbed her briefcase and teleported straight to the limo.
"Let us be gone brother. Something is most definitely wrong but we will need the skills of Jean or Emma to discover more."
The privacy screen lowered to show Thor sitting in the drivers seat wearing a traditional limo driver's suit and cap.
"What of young Lex?"
"I do not know." She said with irritability that Thor was relieved to see was not directed at him. "I believe foul play has occurred and we may have been betrayed. I need to see the contracts that involve Lex Luthor and Lex Matheson as I believe we are in for a lot of trouble."
"Then we shall make all due haste." Thor nodded as he started the engine and pulled off from the front of the building, just as Lex walked out.
The imposter snarled at the departing cab before pulling out a phone attempting to track down the company so he could have the fool fired. Many people would feel the wrath of Lex Luthor that day… but it would be all for nothing.
A/N: SPOILER ALERT
I thought I should put a note in about Lex... yes I killed him!
I spent all that time making him the good guy and now he is dead and replaced by a bad version.
I had my reasons.
Will you miss the good Lex? I hope so.
Is this the last we will see of good Lex? Not even remotely.
If you have the patience things will get better... if you tend to drop a story for the slightest thing... your choice.
Besides... its not like this evil Lex isn't going to suffer.
