Before returning to Japan, Clark had discovered the rest of the crystals in the space capsule. He had taken them with him back to the house he and the others would be staying at and where they would be safe. He then headed back to MBI.
What he found was chaos. The building was literally falling apart and the magicals amongst them were trying to catch falling debris whilst the others were attempting to evacuate the building.
"You can't stop it?" Clark asked Scott as he landed next to the former leader of the X-Men.
"All of the support beams are gone. None of us has the power to hold this thing up or rebuild it. Harry could do it but he's the reason we're in this mess!" Scott groused.
Clark looked at the building, cracks were forming down the side and there were large holes from where the explosions had occurred.
"Where's Kusano?" He asked suddenly.
"Matsu has her over there." He nodded his head.
Clark quickly zipped across to where the two females were trying to stay safe under large tree that Clark was sure Kusano had made grow.
"Hey Ku, you know that building is going to collapse?"
Ku nodded. "It's going to be loud, isn't it?"
"Very loud. I was wondering if you could ask your plants to help hold it up?" He asked.
"How?" She asked.
"Clark, that building is huge!" Matsu warned. "She might not be able to sustain that much power."
"Don't worry, I have a plan." Clark smiled reassuringly.
"But I don't know how." Ku said worriedly.
"I'll show you." Clark took Ku by the hand and led her over to Neville.
"Clark, how's the bastard?" Neville enquired as he stood there zapping falling debris into blobs of water.
"Language!" Ku barked as she imitated Miya.
"Oh, sorry Kusano, I shouldn't have said that." Neville said sincerely.
"Minato is safe and secure. But this building could do a lot of damage. I want to see if Kusano can get her plants to stabilise the structure."
"Details Clark, give me details."
"We take her into the building and show her where to grow branches and trunks where to fill places in with vines. But I need someone to help shield her. A magical."
"Alright, but let's do this quickly. Jean is in there right now trying to secure all the beams she can and that is the only reason the whole thing hasn't fallen."
"Hey!"
"Oh, right. Also because Matsu here managed to hack the building and stop most of the bombs going off." Neville amended.
"Thank you." Matsu said appeased.
Neville, Clark and Matsu led Kusano into the building where they explained to her what they needed her to do. Quite simply they had her grow one large tree in the auditorium that held up the bottom floor. They then had her grow strong vines up the walls. They then moved onto the next floor where Clark cut a whole in the floor and Ku made the tree grow higher and the vines grow further. They did this for three floors before Clark questioned whether the tree would be structurally sound any higher.
"This is a magical tree of my own creation." Neville assured him. "I developed it when Harry and I were young, we never had tree houses and the such so we decided to make one, a really big one."
Clark looked at Neville suspiciously. "Just how old where you?"
"Erm… 372?"
"That's ancient!" Matsu exclaimed.
"He's over twenty million years old, Matsu. 372 is just a drop in the ocean." Clark laughed softly. He honestly didn't think Harry had ever grown up, and he felt he had proof in Neville and Xander.
It took them two hours to reach the top and Ku was tuckered out, even though she put a brave face on. She was fighting her eyelids from her comfortable perch in Clark's arms.
"You did very well Kusano. Go to sleep and I'll wake you for dinner." Clark whispered into her ear as he pulled his cloak around and wrapped little Ku up in it.
"She might be as powerful as Miya." Matsu said reverently.
"In a way, yes." Neville nodded as they stood on the buildings balcony. Behind them was nothing but steps leading to where the clock had been. "Little Kusano has a great deal of power but she also works with the natural power of life. The plants hear her call and they respond and they love her and her innocence." Neville explained as he led them back inside to an empty conference room.
"The building is secure, safe and empty." Xander announced as the magicals teleported in with Homura, Miya, Musubi and Uzume.
"What did you do with Minaka?" Emma asked Clark.
"I asked the Amazons to imprison him on behalf of the gods and Aspects until Harry returns. The capsule is at the castle and the crystals are at the house."
"You have the rest of the crystals?" Matsu asked excitedly. "We can get Takehito back then, right?"
"We'll have to see." Jean tried to keep everyone on an even keel and not get to hopeful. "We will need to study the crystals and interrogate Minaka."
"I'll go with Jean to interrogate Minaka." Xander spoke up. "I have some talent in reading minds myself if he becomes a problem."
"Causing a person to piss themselves in fear so they blab or can't concentrate on hiding their thoughts is not a mind reading talent!" Neville exclaimed exasperatedly.
"You're just jealous because you aren't as intimidating as me!" Xander sniffed causing Matsu, Musubi and Uzume to giggle.
"Where are Logan and the twins?" Clark asked.
"They went back to release Yukari and Sheena." Uzume grinned.
"When did Yukari turn up, whose Sheena and why are they locked up?" Clark asked curiously.
"Soon after you left to come here. Sheena is 107 and was raised as Kusano's big brother. Kusano locked them in a big plant until Yukari agreed to be Sheena's Ashikabi." Xander smiled happily.
"That was all your idea, wasn't it?" Clark asked him.
"I can neither confirm nor-"
"Neville?"
"Every little bit of it." Neville nodded as he looked at Xander with a dry look.
"Traitor." Xander accused.
"Child!"
"Green thumb!"
"I keep telling you, that's not an insult."
"Gentlemen, could we please stay on track here?" Emma interrupted them.
"This building is temporarily secure and safe." Xander said with a small pout. "We need to give another run through and fill in any gaps or areas we missed."
"We also need someone to man the reception and prevent people from entering. How will we explain this to the employees and authorities?" Clark asked.
"Jean and I will get Minaka to sign over the company giving us full control." Xander answered. "In the meantime I suggest Scott and Emma stay in the reception area and deal with visitors."
"I can probably hack the computers and change a lot of the ownership details now that I am onsite." Matsu offered.
"Put everything in the name of Clark Joseph Kent. His mother, Martha Kent, holds legal responsibility until he becomes a legal adult." Scott said quickly.
"My name? Why?"
"Spoils of war Clark." Scott said. "If you don't claim them, then someone else will try and take them and you can't trust that they will be as noble as you. Down the line you might find an apprentice or one of your children might be good enough to take over. But in the meantime, this is all yours."
"War?"
"It can take many forms." Xander stepped up. "I don't believe this one is finished yet either, we just happen to have won a decisive battle."
"Shouldn't we share the 'spoils'?" Clark asked with air-quotes.
"No, we are here in servitude to the god Kal-El." Neville said quickly. "It is the only way we could help you and not insult the other pantheons."
"I can't wait till we get Harry back." Clark sighed.
Loki was trying to investigate the various business news of the day in the hopes that she would be able to discern what had made Lex become so hostile. She didn't find much other than the fact that Martha had called to ask why Lex was trying to sign out Kryptonite in large amounts. Loki had told her to deny the action and send every request her way so she could examine it.
Of course then she had to phone Martha back to let her know that Clark was now the owner of a large Japanese company and that she would have more documents to sign. When Martha had asked how she was supposed to handle more business matters and the farm Loki had just told her to have Jonathan send more Amazons.
Fortunately Thor had been there and promised Martha that he would be over soon.
This left Loki alone in the castle with Cassandra and the Jenkins family. Jodie was off on holiday with her father and Ryan was with Martha helping on the farm.
Then the doorbell went. Loki sighed as she stood from Amara's desk and walked to the front door.
"Are we expecting anyone?" Cassandra asked as she met Loki in the entrance hall.
"No, and I am far too busy for this." She said grumpily. She was beginning to get very tetchy.
Cassandra opened the wooden door to find Lex standing there with Earl lurking just behind. "Lex, everything ok?"
"I would prefer if you would address me as Mr. Luthor." He sneered. "And would you please call off this dog of yours." He snapped as he indicated Earl.
"What do you want?" Loki asked with narrowed eyes.
"I need to speak with Clark Kent."
"Regarding?" Loki prompted.
"That is a private matter between myself and Mr. Kent." That sneer seemed to be permanently etched onto Lex's face.
"Well Mr. Kent is a minor, his mother holds guardianship until he reaches adult age and I currently manage his legal affairs. If you wish to discuss anything then I suggest you make an appointment with my office and I will arrange a meeting between yourself, Mrs. Kent and I."
"This is an urgent matter, I do not have time to make phone calls or deal with secretaries." Lex growled.
"Then I suggest you hurry up and get your phone out." Loki smirked as she slammed the door in Lex's face.
"You took a lot of pleasure in that." Cassandra laughed. "But was it really necessary?"
"Did you notice how he treated us? He was nothing like the Lex we've grown to love. Besides, I saw a limo in the drive. He didn't use magic to come here. I don't think he knows who we are."
"You think he's an imposter?" Cassie asked seriously.
"That or he's been brainwashed. We've seen it happen before."
Earl teleported in next to them. "He's gone. Did he hit his head and get partial amnesia?"
"I hope that's all it is." Loki sighed. "I need to call Martha, I think Lex might try and talk to her now."
"I could teleport you over." Earl offered.
"Thank you, but no. If he doesn't remember magic then I won't be able to explain how I beat him there." Loki said as she patted the man's large arms gratefully.
Jean had to flame Clark and Xander to the palace on Themiscyra where Xander immediately leapt into Clark's arms just prior to leaving.
Clark was completely confused as to why he was cradling Xander like a damsel in distress. "What are you doing?"
"Men aren't allowed to step foot on the island with out the blessing of the goddesses." Xander answered with a grin.
"Then fly." Clark said as he unceremoniously dropped Xander where he was standing.
"Lord Kal-El, are you intent on re-populating the island with men or is there something else we should be worried about?" A dark-haired woman in regal robes asked in amusement. Her name was Phoebe and she was the Queen's Handmaiden and often looked to as the second in command of the island, for now she served Jonathan until Amara returned.
"No, this is Lord Death's father, Xander Harris, he likes to think he's funny." Clark said seriously. "I beg your patience with him."
Phoebe quite liked her new Queen and her family. This new godling was proving to be just what was needed to dispel the myths of men that many of the Amazons had accepted as fact. His father, the Lord Regent, was a fair and just man; it was very disheartening to see a man be so decent when their former queen, Hippolyta, was despicable to men and any who questioned her opinion on them.
"Can I assume the Lord Regent will approve?" She asked with that same amused tone.
"Approve is probably not the word I would use. The best I can say is he won't have the guards try and run him through with their spears." Clark allowed.
"I will alert you father that you have arrived." She laughed as she turned and walked off.
"And they say you have no sense of humour." Xander grinned at Clark.
"His sense of humour was never in question." Jean interrupted. "Harry's, and by extension, yours, most definitely are."
"Clark!" The trio turned to see Lana and Chloe walk into the entrance to the palace where they were waiting. "Come for the interrogation?" Chloe asked.
"Yes. Hopefully we can get what we need out of Minaka and then start on getting Harry back." Clark nodded. "By the way, there are a few people that might be coming over from Japan to stay. They will probably keep calling Harry, 'Takehito'. It's the name he was going by."
"I guess we won't meet them for a few years." Lana sighed.
"Why? This thing with getting Harry back better not take more than a few days." Xander said hopefully.
"We are going to be spending at least a year here." Chloe explained. "Thor and Loki brought a time travel device here so we could return to this point, or to a point in a week or so. I think they want to wait until you get Harry back."
"We promise to work as quickly as we can." Jean smiled.
"And we'll start now." Jonathan declared as he entered the entrance hall with his ever-present guards. "Girls, you have places to be." He told Chloe and Lana pointedly. They quickly hurried off. "Let's get this done. These ladies are getting antsy with Amara and Diana missing."
"I may not be reading your mind Jonathan Kent, but even I know you are lying." Jean warned him with a slight smile.
"Fine! I miss my wife!"
"Awwww!"
"Shut up!"
"You! Find me Martha Kent."
Mila, the young Amazon looked up from where she was sweeping up the loose hay in the Kent barn. There was a man standing there, she knew the man was Lex, he was a friend of Martha and Lord Kal-El, but he looked… different.
"Pardon?"
"Are you deaf or just incompetent?" Lex snapped. "Find me Martha Kent!"
"I'm right here, Lex. And I don't appreciate the way you are addressing Mila. I don't know what has gotten into you but-"
"I have no time for your righteous opinion, I just want to buy the remaining shares of LexCorp and be done with this town."
"They are not for sale." Martha said simply as the other three Amazons moved to stand behind Martha with Mila.
"Everything is for sale." He said dismissively.
"You are entitled to that belief, but don't assume others will humour you." She warned. "If that is all then I'll ask you to leave, Mr. Matheson."
"It's Luthor." Lex said angrily. "I am not here to be toyed with. I want those shares and you will sell them to me."
"Be very careful Mr. Luthor, you are getting dangerously close to threatening."
As she spoke the Amazons began to spread out defensively.
"You are on private property. Now leave."
"You will be hearing from my lawyers." Lex snapped as he spun on his heel and marched back to his waiting limo only to slip in a rather wet patch of mud causing the women to giggle.
Lex picked himself up and continued on without looking back.
As the limo pulled away Martha turned to Mila. "You are a very naughty girl!" She teased with a huge smile.
"He deserved it! If he had spoken to our Queen or even our Lord Regent like that we would have gutted him like a pig! Making him trip was nothing."
The other Amazons were nodding seriously.
Martha pulled the tall yet young woman into a hug. "Thank you, ladies. But just remember the laws and rules are different here, ok?"
Clark, Jean and Xander returned to the house in Japan only have Yukari descend on Clark and Xander like a dog after a rabbit.
"YOU! Both of you!" She pointed a finger at a worried Clark and a smirking Xander. "Let's start with you buddy! You had Kusano trap Sheena and me in that plant and then you forgot about us whilst all the fighting was going on."
"And at what point did you and Sheena realise that Sheena could get you out of there with very little effort?" Xander smiled knowingly.
Yukari blushed vividly but then seemed to rally. "That is not the point! The point is that you forgot about us!"
"I didn't forget, I just decided you were safer in there and had more important things to deal with." Xander shrugged. "Did you deal with those important things?"
The blush returned with a small smile.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Who's Sheena?" Clark asked.
"Kusano's opposite, Number 107. Didn't you read the information on the Sekirei?"
"I was a little busy trying to focus on infiltrating MBI and capturing Minaka."
"YOU!" Yukari suddenly remembered she had issues with Clark as well.
"I wasn't even there!"
"No, you made Kusano use all that power and energy and she wiped herself out!"
"I had several experts and at least one doctor on hand." Clark pointed out. "She is probably just tired because it was a long day."
Yukari's mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to come up with a point to further her argument.
"Relax kid, just go with the flow." Xander said as he patted Yukari on the back and walked past her.
Clark just smirked and followed leaving a discombobulated girl just standing there with her finger pointing accusingly at nothing.
"So what did you find out?" Scott asked the trio as they found or conjured seats in the living room.
"That I hope Harry let's me kill Minaka." Xander growled.
"I get first dibs." Logan argued lightly. "I know exactly what he's done and what he's capable of and I had to put up with him for more than two decades."
Xander looked like he was about to object, but then decided against it. "The Wolverine gets to kill him."
"The answer you're looking for is that Minaka didn't really know what he was doing. He used some sort of ritual he discovered in the ships database." Clark answered.
"Ship?" Emma asked.
"All the Sekirei are aliens, like me. But their ship is badly damaged and has been pillaged by MBI."
"What was the ritual supposed to do?" Scott asked.
"Minaka thinks it is supposed to banish the target to another dimension, but he's wrong or he did the ritual wrong." Clark said with a smile. "Harry is in the crystals."
"And you know this, how?" Homura asked.
"Because I can feel him when I touch them. I can almost hear him talking to me."
"You can? I've had that one crystal for years and I never felt anything." Matsu pointed out.
"Clark and Harry have a deep connection. The Master and Apprentice bond." Neville said softly. "He didn't do it on purpose." He went on to assure Clark. "It's the same sort of bond that Aphrodite has with Love."
Clark nodded. "An Avatar Bond."
"Essentially, yes."
Logan vanished from the table only to reappear seconds later with the eight Jinki crystals. "You know 'Jinki' literally means 'god vessel'. It would explain why it took all of them to contain Harry." Logan said as he placed the crystals on the table and pushed them over to Clark.
"They come from a time of gods among our people." Miya said softly. "When combined they have the power to terminate all the Sekirei."
"Uh huh… once we get Takehito back I recommend we destroy them." Yukari said, the others nodded in agreement.
"No… have to do it now." Clark said as he stood up and pulled out his hammer quickly swinging it.
"CLARK!" "WAIT!"
The cries were too late as the hammer impacted the crystals turning them into dust.
"Well it's about fucking time!"
Miya was instantly up ladle in hand.
"Darling, put that away. It'll be another couple of minutes before I have a body for you to molest."
Everyone looked to the voice as they saw Harry's ethereal form appear.
"Why do you have clothes when you are like that but nobody else does?" Clark asked as he realised that Harry was wearing a casual shirt and trouser combo.
"I'm special." He grinned. "Thanks for getting me out of there. I was having flashbacks to when I was the last man alive." He said with a shudder.
"Wait, what about the others?" Jean asked.
"I can feel myself connecting with them, they will be fine… although they should have woken up by now." Harry frowned.
"They were in so much pain we had to put them into induced comas." Jean explained. "The bonds were severed."
"Ah… I can imagine. Haven't had that much pain in… ever."
"Worse than going into the sun?" Clark asked.
"Much worse. Now, where's that bastard Minaka?" Harry scowled.
"Themiscyra, I asked the Amazons to hold on to him as they don't have technology." Clark answered. "We should probably take him to Odin so you can deal with him in front of the other gods. They sent me here to find you."
"Hey! I have first dibs on gutting him." Logan spoke up, popping his metal claws.
"Whoa! Did you know he could do that?" Matsu asked Miya.
"Yes, he used them when he taught me to cook." She smirked.
Harry and Scott turned and grinned at Logan.
"The Mighty Wolverine has resorted to using his famed claws as cooking knives?" Harry taunted.
"Yeah, well you might not realise it but you never taught your missus how to cook. She damned near burnt the inn down after you vanished."
"Tease Logan later. The gods have waited long enough." Jean scolded.
"Fine. Miya, you're coming with us. Neville, Dad, you too. Nice to see you both by the way."
"Likewise." Neville smiled softly.
With that the group vanished.
"Ok, I am going to go and wake up the girls. You try and figure out why we can't teleport out of Japan." Jean instructed as she flamed out.
"Didn't she just-"
"No, she's a Phoenix, she has a different method of transportation." Scott answered Uzume.
"But the end result is the same?" Homura pointed out.
"So is getting on a plane." Emma said.
"So, MBI?" Scott asked with a sigh.
"It would seem to be our best chance at finding more information." Emma nodded. "But you will be taking us on vacation after this is over." She said sternly.
"The Savage Land?"
"Where else?" Emma grinned lasciviously.
Odin's court was packed. It was the most eclectic gathering of gods since Athena of the mutant's universe called for a meeting to deal with the Skrull gods during the invasion of Earth.
Odin was on his throne as this was his domain. Kal-El was a member of his pantheon and all of the work had gone through his court. At his left hand stood Zeus and Aphrodite, on his right was Baldur, the heir to the Asgardian throne.
Arrayed on either side were the various gods of the many pantheons.
"Lord Death, it is good to have you back." Odin said seriously as he rose and gave a low bow that was repeated by the other gods.
"Kal-El does good work." Harry smiled. "He has brought me back, freed me from the captivity and also caught the culprit alive and well for our judgement. Know this, all of you. Lord Kal-El of Krypton, the Asgard God of Thunder has proven himself ready to stand on his own. He is no longer my Apprentice, he is my Avatar and the equal of all Avatars."
Clark tried to keep his face straight. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach. It felt like he had been cut lose and that he no longer had the backup and support he had before with Harry's guidance. A chill fluttered down his back but he remained stoic.
"We agree." Odin nodded. "Lord Kal-El has exceeded all expectation and quashed any doubts. We consider him a full adult god. When he calls on us now we will stand beside him and follow his lead." Odin smiled at Clark.
Clark bowed low to the gods. It was the only response he could come up with as he didn't trust his mouth yet.
"Kal-El Jonathanson, present your prisoner." Baldur instructed from his place next to Odin's throne.
Clark grabbed the unconscious form on the ground by the back of his ridiculous white lab coat with the high collar and held him up easily. "I present Minaka Hiroto, the man who though he could defeat Death just so he could enslave a race of beings and use them for his own entertainment." He gave a nod to Logan who cast an Enervate.
"What? What happened? Where am I?" The Super-Genius asked.
"You are in the Court of the Gods, mortal." Odin addressed him his face as dark as a thundercloud. "You have committed what is considered the highest crime in all of existence. The sentence can only be death. The only reason we haven't killed you yet is because we haven't determined when you will die, how you will die and how you will suffer until you do die."
"Don't I get a lawyer?" Minaka asked weakly.
He was ignored.
"Due to the impact that this has had on existence, I have decided to allow the Court of the Gods to determine the time of his demise and his fate until that time arrives. The only stipulation I have is that The Wolverine will act as my mortal executioner and I will deal with his soul myself." Harry addressed the court.
"We will need to imprison him somewhere whilst the Court deliberates." Odin mused. "Each of our pantheons would relish the chance to throw him in our hell pits, but reaching an accord is never easy with the gods." He chuckled.
"Make the bastard a new special cell, leave him in Death's home world which is desolate. Each pantheon can add their own little feature to his cell. Then when you have made your decision on his fate, retrieve him and let lose." Xander suggested.
"The Father of Death has spoken. Do any object to his suggestion?" Baldur called out loudly.
There were murmurs but nothing to be considered an objection.
"So be it." Odin nodded. "We will send our Underworld Gods to build the cage and then call upon you to transfer him to the desolate world of Lord Death." Odin declared.
Jean had the girls up fairly quickly; she refused to tell the story of what happened until they were altogether with Harry and the others as she didn't want to repeat herself. The problem came with Heimdall.
Jean awoke him quickly enough but he was clearly in agony.
Only one phrase issued from his mouth over and over again.
"Father!"
It was horrible to hear the usually strong and unbreakable Heimdall call plaintively for his father. Even Brunhilde couldn't calm her son.
Fortunately Harry heard his son.
"Oh son, I didn't know you would be affected like this." Harry said sadly as he caressed the Asgard's cheek tenderly. "I will be a few minutes." He told the others as he turned back and stared into Heimdall's eyes.
"Does anyone know what happened?" Dani asked impatiently.
"At this point we have more important things to worry about." Amara said soothingly. "Diana and I need to return to Themiscyra to assure the Amazons we are alright."
"Jonathan will be so pleased you are up." Jean grinned. "He loves what he is doing but he's missing Martha."
"Jonathan is there, why?" Amara asked.
"Aphrodite appointed him Lord Regent in your absence. She wanted him as he was one of the few men she knew would be beneficial to the Amazons in getting them used to the males of the species."
"Not Clark?"
"Clark was assigned by Odin on behalf of the gods to find Harry."
"Odin made the request himself?" Diana asked in awe. She was used to Aphrodite coming around by now but for a king of the gods to do so was incredible.
"He did, but it was all the gods, Diana. Every pantheon came together for this. The gods of other realities and dimensions where threatening to come as well. Even the Aspects began to move."
"Whoa… that's… epic." Dani muttered in awe.
"Easy Heimdall, easy." They turned as they saw Harry help the significantly larger Heimdall off his specially enlarged bed.
"Tell me again how you managed to give birth to him?" Lorna whispered loudly to Brunhilde.
"Brother, are you well?" Sif asked worriedly as she ignored Lorna's yelp of pain from Hilde's head slap.
"I will be, Sister. I merely need time. You need not concern yourself." Heimdall assured her in his deep voice.
This was not what Sif wanted to hear. "Of course I am concerned! You were in agony! Father had to come and heal you. What was wrong?" She demanded of Harry.
"Your brother wasn't in a coma like the rest of you. Physically he may have been. But he was fully aware, part of his nature really."
"What are you saying Husband?" Hilde asked quietly.
"That he was feeling the pain the whole time I was gone." Harry told them, his eyes had an almost dead look to them.
"By the gods." Diana gasped.
"I am not the only one who suffered." Heimdall said sadly as he looked at his father.
"I'm used to pain. It was just a few months ago that I spent a few days in the heart of the sun. This was worse… but… I don't really care. I just hate that you suffered."
"I believe we would all agree that the benefits of our bonds outweigh the issues." He smiled softly.
