You can get lost in the music for hours

honey, You can get lost in a room

We can play music for hours and hours

But the sun'll still be coming up soon

The world's just spinning

A little too fast

If things don't slow down soon

we might not last

So just for the moment, let's be still

You can get lost in the music for hours

honey, You can get lost in a room

We can play music for hours and hours

But the sun'll still be coming up soon

The world's not forgiving

Of everyone's fears

The days turn into months

the months turn into years

So just for the moment, let's be still

They're tearing down

So we can rebuild

And all this time

Is just circles in my mind

So just for a moment

Just one moment

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Ain't no time for me

how we see it so clearly

Ain't no time for me, oh

The world's just spinning

A little too fast

If things don't slow down soon

we might not last

The world's not forgiving

Of everyone's fears

The days turn into months the months turn into years

So just for a moment, let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

By the Head and the Heart

Chapter 14: Let's Be Still

Adjusting to life in the ryokan had gone much smoother than Hitomi had expected. She had been initially anxious at the possibility of running into Dilandau. She still didn't know how to feel about their last encounter. Her mind kept cycling through the events of that night. She could only hope and pray that he didn't remember any of it.

As Friday rolled around, and having still not run into the silver haired boy, Hitomi began to finally feel more at ease. She had been sleeping better, and felt more rested. Her daily encounters with Folken had brought her a sense of peace and tranquility that she had been previously lacking. His presence and their interactions were just the distraction her mind needed. The worries that plagued her mind had slowly begun to melt and fade away.

After classes had finished for the day, Hitomi made the choice to take a trip back to her home. As she entered the eerily quiet house, it only reaffirmed her decision to prolong her stay at the ryokan. She went to work quickly with packing another bag of her personal belongings. She decided she wouldn't pack too much, in the off chance that she should change her mind.

Before she left her home, she stopped by the guest room which Dilandau had made use of. A few boxes of his belongings were still piled up in a corner. She made her way over to them, debating with herself whether to bring them with her. Knowing he still had a key to the house, she decided leaving them would be fine. If he really needs any of it, he can come get it himself, I'm not his maid, she told herself.

As she went to turn towards the door, the glint of a jewel caught her eye. She turned her attention back to the opened box on the top of the pile, her eyes searching for the source of the distraction. Cautiously she reached in, her fingers delicately grasping for the small jewel. When she felt her fingers take hold of the smooth oval jewel, she pulled her hand out. It had been the pendant that Dilandau had used to take her back to Gaea.

Hitomi felt her world come to a rapid halt. Time seemed irrelevant as her mind transported her back to that horrid memory. Her hopes and dreams had been crushed within only a few short minutes. Her body felt paralyzed with fear with the onslaught of the memories. She didn't want to go back, she didn't want to experience that heartache again.

The pendant fell from between her fingers, landing with gentle clang on the hardwood floor. The sound snapped her out of the trance-like state she had been propelled into. Her eyes wide, slowly moved downward to stare at the small red pendant. There was something different about it. She knew from the beginning it was not hers, the energy it gave off had felt different. However there was a familiarity about it. She couldn't quite figure it out.

Warily, she knelt down to attempt to pick it up again. She needed to know where it had come from, and she had a good idea just who to ask; Folken. Reassuring herself that she wouldn't let the memories overtake her again, she reached out to grasp the pendant and deposited it into her pocket.

She tried not to think about the pendant weighing her down on her journey back to the ryokan. She kept her fingers preoccupied by tracing the embroidered pattern of her school's logo stitched on her duffle bag. She needed to resist the urge to take hold of the pendant, to allow it's mysterious powers to pull her in and play a dangerous game with Fate.

Upon her eventual arrival, she hurriedly made her way to her room where she changed out of her uniform and into something more comfortable. She removed the pendant from the pocket of her school uniform and slipped it into the pocket of her the black, light-weight cardigan she was wearing.

Her fingers were hesitant to let go of the chain, not necessarily wanting to let go the powerful little gem. Folken, she reminded herself, I need to talk to him about it. Her fingers released the chain, allowing the pendant to finally settle in the depths of her pocket. She glanced down at her watch, noting the time was nearing 7 o'clock. She knew precisely where to find him.

Just as she had predicted, she found Folken sitting outside of the chashitsu pouring two cups of tea. She approached the chashitsu, carefully walking up the stone steps to join him. She slipped off her geta before proceeding to take a seat on the pale green zabuton next to the low sitting table.

They exchanged the usual pleasantries and engaged in idle chit-chat, basking in the relaxing atmosphere and losing track of time. Hitomi was hit with the sudden recollection of the reason she had sought him out. She set down her yunomi on it's saucer before reaching into her pocket to grasp the red pendant. Without uttering a word, she removed it from her pocket and laid it down on the table. "Where did this come from?" she asked bluntly.

Folken's eyes drifted downwards to gaze upon the pendant. He reached out to grasp it, lifting it by the goldlink chain. "It is mine." He answered simply, deciding to not shield her from the truth. "To be more precise, it was my mother's."

Stunned by his revelation, her jaw dropped but no words could seem to come out. Folken smiled softly and continued his tale, "Before I had left home to complete the rite of dragonslaying, she had bestowed it onto me. It had been in her family for generations, passed down to the first borns. I suspect she knew we wouldn't see each other again. I didn't understand the significance of the pendant, of the power it contained."

With a gentle flick of his wrist the pendant began to sway to-and-fro. "In the moments before the dragon struck me, I witnessed a myriad of different outcomes. Time itself seemed to stand still. Nothing else existed in that moment except myself and the ferocious beast. And I was given a set of choices: Die trying to slay the beast, return home as a coward or abandon the life I once knew and follow the path Fate had laid out for me." With his free hand he stopped the swaying of the pendant.

"Under the tutelage of Dornkirk, I came to understand the power of the pendant and it's true purpose. Before one can attempt to harness and control it's innate power, one of two conditions must be met: The first being genetic; a descendant of Atlantis. The second is more complicated as it's not easily explainable. In the simplest terms, one would need to be a conduit of Fate. I believe you would fall into that category."

Hitomi nearly lost the grip on the yunomi she had cradled in her hands. Her mind was still attempting to absorb and understand all he had said. She hadn't anticipated such a complex explanation. His tale only raised more questions, "A conduit of Fate?" She repeated aloud, "Are we just tools and play things of some higher power? Was everything we fought and sacrificed all for nothing?" she looked to him, searching for the answer.

"No, not entirely," he answered, "Fate and Destiny are ultimately inescapable. It is an undeniable cosmic truth. However, we still possess free will. Fate and destiny will always give you a choice. We are not bound to a single path, a single decision. We can use our free will to carve out a new path, create a new destiny. As a conduit of Fate, you have the unique gift to forge the path of fate and determine a new destiny."

Hitomi stared blankly at her nearly empty cup of tea. Her mind overwhelmed, still struggling to understand it all: fate, destiny, free will. Everything she thought she knew on the matter had been shattered. She had many more questions to ask, but one in particular had been nagging at her for sometime. "You said only those who are descendants of Atlantis or conduits of Fate are able to properly utilize the pendant." Folken nodded in affirmation, "So then, how was Dilandau able to use it to bring me to Gaea?"

"It was your wish, your desire to will fate to bring you back to Gaea. Dilandau simply held the key for you to unlock the gate, so to speak."

Hitomi breathed a small sigh of relief. Although his explanation solved one mystery, there was still another missing piece to the puzzle. "But… if he can't use the pendant, how did he know about Van?"

"I suppose I am partially to blame. Sometime after our arrival here, he had been determined to return to Gaea to have a proper rematch with my brother. I invoked the power of the pendant and the gods spoke to me, showing me the truth. If I had known what he had planned to do with that information, I would have kept it to myself." His gaze drifted from the pendant still dangling from his fingers to Hitomi's hands. He felt the burden of guilt knowing he played a role in her attempt to take her own life. He had vowed to atone for his indiscretion.

He held the pendant out towards Hitomi, waiting for her to take it. She stared at the red gem in disbelief, "I can't take it… it means more to you than it would me." She told him, keeping the real reason she didn't want it to herself. She feared its power, that it would pull her back into the fold of fate and destiny. But most of all she feared she would be plagued with visions of the future once again. She didn't want that power, she didn't want that responsibility.

He could sense her hesitancy and reluctance to take it. He knew she wouldn't be ready to willingly take it, but it belonged in her hands more than his own. "It will be safer in your hands. Unlike yourself, the pull of its power has a greater effect on myself." he explained. "Please, Hitomi," with his free hand he reached out to gently grasp hers, tenderly pulling it toward the pendant, encouraging her to accept it.

Timidly she opened her hand, her heartbeat quickened as she felt the gem come to rest in her palm. As she closed her fingers around the pendant she noticed that it seemed to feel lighter than before. Something had changed, she determined as its energy no longer felt foreign to her. It resonated warmly with her, reminding her of the feeling of being wrapped in Folken's warm embrace.

Hitomi returned to her room some time later, her mind still abuzz from and processing all that Folken had revealed to her. She pulled the pendant from her pocket and examined it as it rested in the palm of her hand. Had it all been her mind playing tricks on her before? She couldn't comprehend how it suddenly felt so different in her possession.

Perhaps, she wondered, the burdensome energy it had given off was a sort of defence mechanism. The gem knew she wasn't its rightful owner and emitted the arduous aura to deter her from wanting to possess it. Does it have a will of its own? She gave her head a gentle shake, her mind had been overtaxed for one day. She would set those thoughts aside and try to get some rest.

The following day Hitomi decided she would devote some time to pamper herself. She hadn't spent much time exploring the grounds of the ryokan other than the main building itself and the large courtyard. With Dilandau having gone away training with a few of his former Dragonslayers, she knew there would be little chance of having an unexpected encounter with him.

Folken was unable to tell her when they could expect Dilandau to return, as their training excursions were often sporadic and spontaneous. He had recalled the last time Dilandau had departed for training they were gone for nearly two weeks. With that knowledge, Hitomi had planned out her day of exploration. Her primary goal was to reach the onsen near the shrine hidden deep within the forest.

She packed herself a bento for later, a towel and robe, as well as a change of clothes for her trek back. She made sure to dress appropriately for her excursion, wearing lightweight layers and comfortable shoes. It wouldn't take too long to reach, possibly only half an hour at the most she estimated based on the map she had been provided.

The pathway was easy enough to find as it was marked with a moss covered, stone torii gate. The stone pathway was partially eroded as the forest had over time tried to reclaim it. She would have to be careful and watch her steps, she reminded herself, to avoid accidentally tripping over any ungrounded tree roots.

The air was calm, peaceful and cleansing. The gentle breeze caressing the canopy of leaves overhead rang throughout the forest. The back and forth singing of the birds created a harmonious melody, guiding Hitomi along her journey. With each step she took, she could feel her worries begin to drift away.

By the time she reached the steps leading up to the old, long since abandoned shrine, she began to feel the pangs of hunger in the pit of her stomach. Before continuing onward, she sat herself down at the base of the shrine entrance. She opened her backpack and pulled out the bento she had packed, consuming enough to satiate herself.

Feeling content and ready to continue, she climbed the stone stairway, which had been lined with a series of faded red torii gates. Unlike most shinto shrines she had visited in her youth, this one was comparatively small and had succumbed to the encroaching trees and wildlife. There was an otherworldly beauty about the shrine. It had been left untouched, uncorrupted by human interference for what she could only assume had been decades.

She walked around the grounds, not daring to try entering either of the small shrine structures. Although they had shown the will to stand the test of time, she could feel the gentle pulse of the pendant around her neck warning her from entering. She continued her exploration of the shrine grounds, only coming to a halt when she came across the shinboku. She gazed up at the old, ancient tree feeling it's aura drawing her in.

She reached out a hand to gently caress the rough bark. She hadn't been much of a believer in kami and ancient spirits, brushing them off as old tales taught to children to keep them from misbehaving. However, she couldn't deny what she was feeling in that moment, the push and pull of the energies from the sacred tree and the pendant she had now possessed.

Their energies seemed to resonate with one another, coming to accept their differences. Her head began to feel light as she stood there, feeling like a gateway for the two energies. She crumpled to knees as the dizziness began to overtake her body. She tried to find the strength to stand, but only felt her body grow weaker. Her vision began to blur and soon was enveloped with darkness as her body collapsed fully on the ground beneath the shinboku.

Hitomi could feel her body afloat, drifting away in a sea of stars. Her eyes fluttering open as her body seemed to come to rest on solid ground. She laid sprawled out on her back, staring up at the clear star speckled sky. Her attention was pulled towards one of her outstretched hands as she felt something soft, yet moist brush up against it.

She turned her head towards her hand to see a black fox gently licking her palm. The fox ceased licking as it sensed her movement. It stood there, waiting for her to make her move. Hitomi stared in awe at the creature and slowly brought herself to sit upright. She gazed down at her hand, still moist from the fox's attempt at grooming her. She looked back to the fox, which had begun to walk away. "Wait!" she called out.

The fox paused and looked back at her briefly before continuing on its way. Hitomi, feeling drawn to the mysterious creature, brought herself to stand and chase after it. Sensing her approach, it hastened its pace. Determined to catch up, Hitomi ran after it, following it as it darted into the thick woods. Despite the fact she had lost visual sight of it, she followed her instincts and let the pendant guide her.

Eventually she came to a clearing where she would the fox sitting with its back turned to her. Cautiously she approached, her hand outstretched to touch it. Just as her fingers began to graze the tips of its fur, the fox launched itself upwards in the air, casting a cloud of darkness in its wake. Hitomi flailed her arms and hands about in an attempt to clear the darkness away.

From the darkness came a hand, which grasped hers. Hitomi let out a gasp, startled by the sudden touch. The darkness began to dissipate, revealing a man dressed in a black and red yukata and donning a matching kitsune mask. He brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her palm. Her cheeks flushed at his impulsive gesture, "Who are you?" she asked.

He said nothing, gently pulling her into his embrace. His free arm wound its way around her back, holding her close. His hand let go of hers, moving to softly caress her cheek. He lowered his head, bringing his lips to meet with her own. Hitomi felt her body relax as she felt the warmth of his lips captivate hers. It filled her with the feeling of pure bliss and joy.

He pulled away eventually, loosening his hold on her slender body. Hitomi stood in a daze, her mind replaying what had just transpired. He let go completely before turning and bolting back into the forest. "Hey! Wait!" She called out before trying to run after him. As she reached the edge of the clearing, the world around her became consumed in darkness and she found herself falling into its abyss.

Hitomi jolted awake, her heart racing wildly. What… what was that? She wondered. Was it a dream…? Or was it… she didn't want to entertain the possibility of it being a vision, however she knew deep within her soul she couldn't outright deny it. It felt so real… she brought her fingers to her lips, caressing them softly as she recalled their kiss.

She sat there beneath the shinboku for some time until she could find the strength to stand on her feet. If it was a vision, what did it mean? She tried to recall what she knew in regards to the myths about kitsune and foxes. She knew the colours had some meaning and significance, but she couldn't recall what exactly.

She scanned her surroundings, nothing seemed amiss. She had noticed that it had already begun to grow dark. How long was I out? She wondered, not bothering to check the time. It would have been futile as she hadn't taken note of when she arrived. She picked up her bag and made her way through the shrine, heading towards the path leading to the onsen.

The stone pathway was lined with small hanging lanterns, an obviously more recent addition. Following the dimly lit path, she came across a small wooden building indicating the entrance to the outdoor onsen. Satisfied she arrived at her destination, she entered through the door labeled for women. Once inside, she changed out of her clothing, setting it aside with her backpack and proceeded to wash herself off.

When she was finished, she wrapped her towel around her torso tightly and diligently made her way out to the hotspring. She was surprised to discover that despite there being gendered changing and bathing rooms, the spring itself was not similarly divided. She glanced around quickly, ensuring she was the only occupant before slipping into the warm inviting water.

She waded out in the spring, finding a somewhat secluded spot. She sat down and leaned back up against the warm boulders. After all she had experienced that afternoon, this was precisely what she needed. The heat from the waters enveloped and penetrated her achy body, lulling her into a relaxed state. Her mind kept trying to pull her back to the moment in the shrine when the strange energy overcame her.

If it was a vision, what was it trying to tell her, she wondered. It had been quite some time since she had truly experienced a soul shaking vision. However, unlike the ones she had previously experienced, this one wasn't frightening in the least. There was no fear, no bloodshed, no malice. It had left her feeling a myriad of emotions. She didn't know how to feel about the encounter with the black kitsune.

Where's Yui when I need her? She thought, leaning her head back to stare up at the darkening sky above. She'd know more about kitsune than me… Trying not to dwell on the vision, Hitomi let her mind drift off, focusing on the sounds of the bubbling waters and the occasional song of some nearby birds.

The peaceful atmosphere wasn't meant to last, as the boisterous sounds of a group of young men drew nearer. Instinctively Hitomi brought her arms up to cover her bare chest and slowly made her way further into the little alcove.

"Hurry up Gatti!" She heard an oddly familiar voice call out.

"Hey I think Chesta wants to go first!" another familiar voice answered.

"H-hey! What are you-!" Chesta protested but was to no avail as someone from behind him had tossed him into the spring.

"Idiots! This isn't the place for that!" Hitomi felt the air sucked from her lungs as she heard Dilandau's voice ring out. Her eyes darted around, searching for any possible route of escape. She would have no such luck as she had accidentally cornered herself. She quietly turned to peer through the small crevice of the boulders to spot the group of men standing with just a small towel wrapped around their waists.

"Sorry Dilandau-sama!" the short haired brunette answered, laughing nervously. Dilandau rolled his eyes, removing his towel before stepping into the hot spring. Hitomi averted her eyes quickly, her face turning a bright shade of red after catching a quick glance of his naked form.

Normally Dilandau wouldn't have cared for their antics, but his body ached from the strenuous training he had endured. It had felt good to get back to training. Although there was no present need to hone their fighting skills, it allowed his mind to not focus on her.

His companions, a few of his former dragonslayers, followed suit and entered the spring properly. They conversed with each other, critiquing and teasing one another. Their idle banter was a refreshing change for Dilandau, reminding him of the old days before everything changed. He still didn't fully understand how they came to be alive in this strange world, but with time he had grown accustomed to it.

After some time had passed, one by one his companions departed the spring, decided to head back to the ryokan to get some much needed rest. Dilandau informed them to leave without him, he'd make his way back later. He wanted to enjoy the silence of the onsen for a little while longer.

"Did you enjoy the show?" Dilandau asked aloud.

Stunned, Hitomi's body froze. Is he talking to me?

"Well, onna?" He queried. He had known there was another occupant the moment he arrived. He had recognized her blue and white running shoes that had been left in the genkan. He had seen them many times before, that there was no doubt in his mind who they had belonged to.

Feeling slightly enraged that he used that term for her, she shot back with "That's not my name!"

Dilandau smirked, "You didn't answer the question, Hitomi."

She could feel her cheeks flush, she didn't expect him to cave so quickly. "I don't know what you're talking about. I've been in my corner minding my own business." she answered, feeling flustered. She wasn't about to admit that she had inadvertently seen his nakedness.

"You mean to tell me you weren't tempted in the slightest to have a peak?" He raised a brow. He hadn't expected her to be so prudish.

Hitomi instinctively shook her head no but quickly realized he couldn't see her. "N-no, not at all." She tried to distract herself but his question only made it more difficult. She hated to admit it, but he was the first male she had seen completely nude. Her body and mind were in complete conflict with one another. Her rational mind tried reminding her who he was, but her body couldn't help but feel a slight hint of arousal.

All her back and forth debating with her mind and body had distracted her from her surroundings that she failed to notice that a certain silver hair boy was standing before her. She let out a startled shriek, averting her gaze. "What's the problem? Don't like what you see? Or… have you just never seen a man before?" He inquired, even though he knew he was fairly certain he was correct on the later part judging by her reaction. "Feel free to look. I don't mind."

Hitomi turned her body away slightly, using one arm to cover her breasts and bringing a hand up to shield her eyes. She was already feeling conflicted enough, she didn't need any more temptations.

"You surprise me. I figured with all the time you spent travelling with the dragon, this wouldn't have phased you."

"He… we never did anything like this… together…" she tried to explain. They had been a little preoccupied with just surviving from one day to the next. Things like that just never seemed like a priority.

Dilandau studied her reactions carefully. Her mood had drastically shifted from embarrassment to remorse. He could hear the pain in her voice that echoed around them in the alcove. This wasn't the outcome he had intended to get. He simply wanted to tease her, not throw her to the whims of despair. He had come to terms with what he had done to her, understanding that he had pushed her too far. He hadn't imagined she would have been as broken as he was.

Without uttering another word, Dilandau departed the hot spring, leaving Hitomi to her thoughts. He didn't know how to make things right and it flustered him to no end.

Hitomi waited a few minutes after his departure before she made her way out of the hot spring. This was not at all how she imagined her day going. This day was supposed to be about relaxing and not thinking about him. She let out a frustrated groan as she dressed herself into some warmer clothing. So much for free will, she thought somewhat bitterly, our fates are intertwined I guess…

As she left the changing room, entering the genkan, she was surprised to find Dilandau sitting there. Was he waiting for me? She wondered. "You didn't have to wait for me. I could make it back on my own." She told him as she slipped on her shoes.

"I'd like to see you try," he said with a smirk. "Until you're familiar with the path I wouldn't recommend it. Particularly this late at night. Didn't Folken warn you about that?" Hitomi wanted to object, but she had been warned about that.

"I wasn't planning on staying here this late," she answered. Her nap beneath the shinboku had stolen more time from her than she realized.

"Come on, let's get going," He held out his hand to help her to stand.

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A/N: Holy mother of god! 8 flipping pages! It's done! I was up until the wee hours of the morning finishing this chapter. I was on the evening shift this week at work and we were busy. Unfortunately I seem to get a lot of my writing mojo at night, so being at work and not being able to write was a bummer.

Any ways…. I love how this chapter turned out over all. I actually had made a considerable number of changes compared to my outline. Half of what I had planned got scrapped and replaced. To be fair, the convo between Hitomi and Folken got a little away from me. I wasn't expecting to get so philosophical with it. I actually dug out my old college philosophy textbook to brush up on the topics of fatalism, determinism and free will.

Hope you enjoyed and hopefully this was worth the wait! Not sure when the next chapter will be out. I haven't even begun outlining it yet. So maybe next weekend? Maybe not? I do not know at this point. So stay tuned!