Hello out there, I'm so sorry for not updating but school was in the way. I'll keep my mouth shut now and begin typing.
Chapter 12: Dreams, Swords and Barriers
Lan woke up sweating and gasping as he had every night since Lin and her friends/family left. He didn't know why but something was seriously wrong. What's going on? Maybe something happened when Rena and I had to mesh our powers so closely. Never have we had to do that, her power is past and present, while mine is future and present. We just individually used our powers but she was so complicated she needed both of us.
There was a soft knock at his door before it creaked open, Rena walked looking like he felt. "Something's wrong. I don't know what but I know it has to do with Lin. Something happened with seeing her past was fuzzy in places and the past is always clear." Rena sat at the edge of his bed with her ears drooping as they always did when something bothered her badly.
"I didn't know that; the future is always slightly fuzzy so maybe that's why." Knowing deep inside in wasn't.
"You told me it was when things could change that it was fuzzy and the when future that was unchangeable was clearer than any bell. And I can't see how her past isn't clear even if it is in the future because it already happened for her." Rena looked utterly exhausted as if she hadn't slept for days.
Lan reached over and hugged his sister trying to comfort her. "I don't know but it was like something didn't want us to see that part of her life." This really bothered Lan since he worried what might have happened to Lin.
"That's not good, it may very well be something that could hurt her." Rena hugged her brother as tears leaked out of her eyes. "I think we should find and tell them, don't you?"
"Yes, they need to know. They might be able to something about it then. Don't know what but something is always possible." Lan stood up and pulled sister up also. "When do you want to leave?"
"Now." She straightened and looked less exhausted and worried since she knew she was doing something to help.
InuYasha had went back and gotten the others and returned. Sitting there he watched Shippo, Rin, and Lin playing in the fading light. Shippo and Rin were jumping over, around, and under Lin as she rolled and ran around in her wolf form. He mentally cursed Koga for having to sit around and do nothing.
Kagome and Sango were sitting around the fire they had built and were fixing dinner. "Hey Sango, why do you Sesshomaru left Rin with Lin?"
"Hmm, I guess he doesn't trust that green toad, Jaken." Sango said while checking on the fish.
"No, it's like he didn't want Lin to leave from where he wanted her." Kagome said helping to check the fish.
"I have no idea what goes through that demon's head." Sango said as she started to pull fish out of the fire.
"I know something's up, I just don't know what." Kagome said as she helped. "Dinner's ready."
That night Rin and Shippo slept safely in triangle formed by and Ah-Un and a transformed Kilala and transformed Lin. Miroku slept opposite side of the fire for Sango and Kagome to prevent him from doing anything in his sleep. He reverted to his old habits, despite the promise, when he was asleep and it would take awhile for him to get out of them. Jaken was passed out against a tree stump near Ah-Un. Only InuYasha and Myoga were awake.
"You stupid flea, you let Koga near her." InuYasha said as he pinched the flea in his claws.
"Lord InuYasha it was all I could do to stay with her. I didn't have time to warn her." The flea was wiping sweat off his face.
"Yeah, but what about Sesshomaru huh?" InuYasha pinched tighter.
"He didn't mean her any harm. He simply wanted to know more about his grand-niece." Myoga explained.
"Sure, what did he say?" InuYasha growled.
"All he did was ask questions, then ordered her to watch Rin before he left." Myoga muttered.
"Anything about where he went?" InuYasha eased up the pinch slightly.
"No, nothing he just left. I don't even know in what direction because he flew off to fast." Myoga was really starting to worry because InuYasha did not look happy.
"Fine continue to keep an eye on her and let me know if something happens." InuYasha dropped the flea and hopped into a tree and fell into an uneasy sleep.
It had taken the rest of that night and the entire next day to explain to Totosai who Lin was, what she was like, where the fang had come from, and many other little details. Sesshomaru was extremely glad when he could stop talking.
"It will take me at least three days possibly five to forge the sword." Totosai disappeared into his home taking the fang with him. A few minutes later he popped his head back. "What you still doing here? I figured the Lord of the Western Lands would have something to do while he waited."
"I am remaining here to make sure you don't run off like last time." Sesshomaru said to the old demon.
"Alright, whatever suits you." He replied before disappearing again into his home.
Sesshomaru settled himself a little bit away from the sword makers home. This is going to be a long wait.
InuYasha was tired of waiting around, it was the beginning of the six day and he was feeling like a sitting duck as demon after stupid demon kept trying to steal their jewel shards. Fortunately none of them were strong, but they were still annoying. The wind changed directions and brought two familiar scents coming his way. He stood up and doubled checked. "Lan and Rena are coming everyone."
"Really, I wonder why?" Kagome perked up as did Shippo and Lin.
"Who are Lan and Rena?" Rin asked Lin.
"Oh, they are some nice half fox demons and they are related to Shippo." Lin explained as they two entered the clearing.
"Ohhhh. They're neat looking." Rin said as she saw their fox ears and tails.
"Hi, Lan, Rena." Lin said as Shippo rushed to hug his cousins. "What brings you here?"
"Nothing good, unfortunately." Lan answered as they neared.
"Huh, what do you mean?" InuYasha asked him.
"Well, that requires a bit of explaining." Lan said.
"Well, we all the time in the world as we wait for my stupid brother." InuYasha growled frustrated.
"InuYasha I'll have you know I am not stupid." Sesshomaru voice cut through the group causing all of them to flinch expect for Rin who immediately ran to her lord.
"About time you showed up, now leave." InuYasha growled.
"No. I will remain and I assume these were the half demons you told me about Lin." Sesshomaru received a nod in reply. "If you two have something to say concerning Lin stay, otherwise leave."
"Yes, we do and it's quite urgent." Lan spoke as Rena nodded in agreement.
"Very well explain yourselves." Sesshomaru ordered.
"Hey, what right do you have to . . ." InuYasha begin.
"Sit." Kagome said quickly knowing how easily everything could get out of hand.
Sesshomaru nodded appreciatively and motioned for the half demons to begin.
"Well, to find out your past Lin we had to combine our talents." Lan begin.
"You see I see only the past and present while Lan sees only the future and present." Rena explained. "Since your past is in the future it took our combined efforts to see it. But what we didn't tell you is we could not see it all. There was a blank spot between your parents' death and you arriving at the orphanage. It was fuzzy and unclear which the past never is."
"Usually the future is fuzzy since present actions can affect it but yours should not have been since you had already lived through it." Lan continued. "That has been bothering us since you left since it seems like someone was trying to hide part of your past."
"This has been giving us horrible nightmares, so we believe it to be something is wrong." Rena concluded.
"Do you have any idea what happened?" Lin asked her voice shaking.
"No, not really but we can try to see again and we might be able to see something." Lan offered.
"Yes, that would be a good idea." Sesshomaru said and went to stand beside Lin. "Here before they start, this is for you." Sesshomaru pulled a sword from his side that no one had noticed in the confusion.
"Huh." Lin looked down at the sword and gently took it from Sesshomaru. She unsheathed the sword to reveal a beautifully crafted blade. The sword shone casting a glow on Lin as she stared at it. The glow was the same golden color as Sesshomaru's eyes. The blade began pulsing as Lin stared at it, as the pulse grew strong the sword changed. Its glow changed to red as it grew longer and wider and curved stopping when it was about 2/3 the size of the Tetsusaiga. Just as it stopped growing it doubled itself and swung the double to the other end creating a second identical blade facing the opposite direction.
"That is the Tsuin." Sesshomaru said to Lin. "Totosai claims that sword is his greatest work. Unlike the Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga which have steady forms and limits to their powers, the Tsuin has countless forms that can change instantly and has no limits to its potential powers, only the person wielding it can set the limits and if that person has no limits neither does the sword. This sword will grow and change as you do Lin. I had this sword made especially for you out of my own fang."
InuYasha's jaw dropped and stuttered out "Wha . . . Wha . . .What?"
"You heard me InuYasha." Sesshomaru said coldly.
"Thank you so much Lord Uncle." Lin said bowing her head. "But how was it made from your fang?"
"Totosai is a demon sword forger and can take a demon's fang if the demon is powerful enough and turn it into a sword." Sesshomaru explained with a patience he never showed to anyone but Rin before.
"But how did your fang get so big?" Lin asked. "Are you able to transform too?"
Sesshomaru simply nodded before he started to transform. Lin stood transfixed while the others backed away hurriedly. When his transformation was complete, he gazed down at her while she gazed up at him, ignoring the fact he had only three legs. She nodded her head in understanding and he returned to his normal form.
InuYasha snapped back to himself after everything sunk in and wasn't to happy. "Lin you can't have that sword or any sword made from Sesshomaru's fangs."
"Why not InuYasha your precious Tetsusaiga will go to your future son right, who dies in the future leaving nothing for Lin." Sesshomaru growled. "Your fangs would not make as strong a sword as mine did, why shouldn't she have a sword from our bloodline that's worthy of her."
Before InuYasha could respond Kagome grabbed his arm to get his attention. "InuYasha I know your worried the sword take her like the Tokijin did to Kaijinbou after he forged it. But look at her, does she look possessed?"
InuYasha glanced towards Lin who had sheathed the sword and had a worried look on her face. "No." He admitted.
"I don't know why Sesshomaru did this but I don't believe he wanted to harm her." Kagome loosened her grip on InuYasha who had admitted to defeat at least temporarily.
"I had the sword forged to protect her." Sesshomaru said simply.
"Why would you want her protected?" InuYasha asked.
Sesshomaru was silent for several moments before he answered. "She intrigues me."
"What the hell kind of answer is that?" InuYasha shouted.
Sesshomaru ignored him and told the half demons to try and figure out what they didn't see. Just as InuYasha was about to lose it, Kagome whispered in his ear so that only he would hear her. "InuYasha you have problems admitting you care for a person; why should your brother be any different?" InuYasha mentally stumbled over this and resolved to think it through later.
Near nightfall the half demons were ready to try and see what they hadn't before. Lin again sat between the two both of them facing her. This time though they were a lot closer to her, they held their hands behind her back and each held one of hers. They hoped that the physical contact would help.
As Lan and Rena slipped into the trance and began to hammer away to the fog in her past Lin felt something inside her pounding. It was dull sensation and Lin thought it was her imagination until it intensified. The pain became blinding and pounding filled her ears as her very soul vibrated with it. She didn't realize she was screaming until the pounding stopped and she heard her own, Rena's and Lan's screams of pain.
"What happened?" Kagome, Sango, and InuYasha shouted as they rushed over to support the exhausted and pained individuals.
"We couldn't get through, it was too strong. But we do know a demon had something to do with it since we sensed one right before we were forced to give up." Lan panted out.
"That's all right, just rest for now." Kagome motioned for Shippo and Miroku to bring over pillows and blankets for them. The three were soon fast asleep. "I wish we knew what some demon did to her, so we could help her." Kagome muttered into the darkness.
It was the middle of the night as Sesshomaru sat and listened to Lin's steady breathing. Him and InuYasha were the only ones awake. They both hovered near Lin as she slept each one showing their worry differently. InuYasha was toying with the tips of her hair while Sesshomaru was rubbing his thumb across the Tsuin's sheath. They ignored each other's presence while they concentrated on Lin.
They were so deep in their own thoughts that they didn't realize immediately the massive swarm of demons that were approaching them. It only took a few seconds for them to snap out of it and awaken the others. The swarm reeked of Naraku as it descended upon them. Everyone was fighting aside from Rin who was having to be defended. Every time someone killed one demon five more appeared in its place.
Sesshomaru ordered Lin to take Rin and run since she was only a distraction and easy target. Lin readily agreed to do it since she could easily outrun the demons. She transformed picked up Rin by her kimono and ran off dodging demons and heading into the forest. She quickly left them behind and found a safe place hide Rin in while she stood guard. She didn't expect any demons to find them quickly, so she took the time to transform back.
As soon as she was done something crashed into her. She felt flesh moving over her and pinning her against a tree. "Ha ha what have I caught here? A little werewolf with a pretty special toy." The voice sent chills down Lin's spine. "Allow me to introduce myself I am Naraku and because of your interesting powers your going to become one with my flesh. Once I've gotten the parts I want I'll toss the useless parts away. And I'll enjoy using the sword of yours to kill InuYasha."
Naraku's flesh wrapped itself tightly around Lin separating her from her sword. She struggled to free herself but he regenerated too quickly and she couldn't move much to begin with. Naraku grinned at the power she would give him. Suddenly his grin vanished as he realized she wasn't being absorbed. In her very skin was a barrier that was protecting her from him, it seemed he had caused a mostly dormant part of her to snap awake.
Determined to absorb her anyway he sought to break that barrier. He pushed against it every way he could all at once and kept pushing. He could feel it weakening under his attacks and he knew it would break soon. He was right, it cracked under the pressure but Naraku could not handle what he had released.
Power flooded unrestricted through her and out of her, destroying his flesh as the waves of raw power swept over him. He could not hope to absorb her right now, there was no way he could as weak as he was. Doing the only thing he could, he fled.
Lin was left standing in the forest oblivious to everything around her; she was too occupied by what was happening to her. The power rushed out happily at its release and wasn't ready to settle down again. Her only remaining thought was of her friends and family and trying to keep them safe. The power eager for a goal rushed out at this thought and headed for the demons attacking them.
Everyone was fiercely battling against the demons, when a wave raw power washed over them. It left them unscathed but the demons they were battling were destroyed as soon as the power touched them. All but Lan, Rena, and Sesshomaru stood rooted by amazement and confusion. Lan and Rena were rooted but for a different reason they were trapped in Lin's past as they learned what had been hidden. Sesshomaru was rushing off towards Lin who's presence he felt clearer than anything else in his life and knew that she needed his help.
Most of my day was sacrificed for the planning and writing of this chapter. It's longer than any other I've written. I hope you enjoyed it. Tsuin means twin by the way.