Aurighty, after a lot of time…and friggen homework… here is the twelfth chapter.

Chapter 12 – "Firefly fields"

Recap:

"No!" Taka snapped trudging towards the direction of the Godshinboku Tree and the location of her mother, "We leave now!"

Maki peered over her shoulder again; her eyes fixed on Shippou, and so Taka would hear her, mouthed a simple 'thank you'.

Breathing heavily, Maki assumed her position again and began going through her forms. Tiger Strikes. Fish Avoids Otter. Suddenly there was a tap on her shoulder as she paused in between. Spinning she brought her Kendo stick around to stop lightly against the intruder's neck.

"Whoa!" the kitsune said, backing up slightly, " I didn't mean to startle you."

"You, should not have approached while I was training," Maki said, setting her practice stick against the wall and seating herself on a bench.

Smiling he joined her, apologizing, "Sorry, but this is the only time your sister isn't hanging over your shoulder."

"Ah, yes. She is a bit over-protective," Maki admitted.

"We were never properly introduced," the kitsune smiled, " I'm Shippou."

"Maki, and I'd like to thank you for helping me the other day. Taka is proud, but she is grateful too."

"It was nothing, really," Shippou grinned, " Hey, I'd like to show you something…a secret."

"What is it?" Maki asked, wary once again.

Winking Shippou replied, "I'll show you tonight."

Misinterpreting his gesture, Maki snatched up her Kendo stick and thwacked him soundly across his skull.

"No, no! Nothing like that! Really!" rubbing his abused head he said, "Please come, its really beautiful."

"All right. When?" Maki gave in, setting her stick down once more, but closer this time.

"I'll meet you by the big red oak on the south side of the village about three hours after nightfall."

"And just where do you think that you're going at this time of night?" Taka said accusingly through the dark.

"Um…out," Maki replied in a whisper

"Out? Out where? Not with anyone?" Taka questioned, not intrigued.

"Uh…" Maki hesitated, she never could lie convincingly, "Yeah with someone what's the big deal?"

"It's not that nosy kitsune is it?" Taka accused, seeing it written all over her triplet's face in the dark.

"His name is Shippou and he's not nosy!" Maki defended, " And yes its him. I'll be back later!"

"Oooooooh!" her sister's call followed her out of the hut.

Shippou was waiting by the red oak when she got there.

"Hi," she said, somewhat lamely.

"Hey."

Handing her a cloak, which she had forgotten in her hurry, he offered his arm and they strolled off on the trail leading into the woods.

(A/N: Oh to stop here would be too easy!)

"Ready to tell me where we're off to?" Maki questioned.

"Hmmm…I don't think so," he smiled mischievously then suddenly asked, "Do you trust me?"

Caught off guard Maki answered without thinking, "Yes."

"That's good," Shippou smiled, handing her a blindfold.

Stumbling awkwardly over an unseen root, Maki gripped Shippou's arm, cursing, "Damn blindfold and friggen surprises."

"Hold on," he said, "We're almost there."

Surprisingly, Maki did trust him, as she went off to who knows where with the strange demon.

When they stopped Shippou had to grab the blindfolded girl's waist to prevent her from falling, "We're here," he whispered in her ear, removing the tie around her eyes.

He heard her sign in disappointment as she stared at the empty field.

"There's nothing here," Maki stated.

"Just wait," Shippou told her, "They're coming."

After about ten minutes, Maki signed again and turned to leave, but Shippou's hand on her elbow made her turn back. She gasped at the sight that greeted her.

Thousands of tiny fireflies inhabited the once empty field, dancing to and fro in a beautiful ballet.

"Ohmigod," she breathed, "its gorgeous."

Shippou smiled softly and leaned on the tree behind him. Maki settled against his chest, her head fitting just under his chin. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and they watched the spectacle.

As the sun rose over the once again evacuated field Maki awoke to find that she and Shippou had both slid down to sitting and had fallen asleep.

"Holy Shit!" she exclaimed, "Taka probably waited up!"

Jolted by her cursing, Shippou too realized the situation as the two seventeen-year-olds raced back full speed to the village.

Lucky for Maki, Taka had been snatched by slumber also, so she was able to creep quietly back to her bed, assuming a sleep position. She knew there'd be many questions for her when Taka awoke.

Well that's it for now folks. I really want to keep writing but I gotta kinda go to bed.

A note on the time period:

I did some research though and found that the Sengoku Period, around 1469 was when Naraku was defeated, so I'm setting this one in about 1499, twenty years after.
The time of the ninja, just before Oba Nobunaga united Japan and annihilated them.

So basically -
The modern era is X, a time in the Sengoku period (previously determined 1469), is Y and fifty years before period Y is Z. At Z, Kikyo dies after sealing Inuyasha to a tree, where he goes into suspended animation, and she is cremated on a pyre with the jewel as she wished. At Y, the well (which exist in both X and Y) drops Kagome, the twentieth century reincarnation of Kikyo, off from the future. Here, everyone is older but not much has hanged. X, is the 'modern' end of the wormhole through time.

Suspended animation – n. a temporary state of interrupted breathing and loss of consciousness resembling death, caused especially by asphyxia.
Asphyxia – n. an extreme decrease of concentration of oxygen in the body. Caused mainly by chocking, drowning, electric shock, injury or inhalation of toxic gas. Often referred to as suffocation.

Taka