Hey this is my first RAVE MASTER fic. So it may not be great I apologise in advanced, I'm not sure if I will be able to finish it or not depending on the feedback, but we need more Rave Master fics.

The Cave

Below the grey clouds under the dense tree tops Haru, Elie, Plue, Griff and Musica where continuing there quest for the rave stones. Nights darkness had began to creep into the sky aided by heavy rain clouds which had been threatening to empty all day. It was early autumn and summers warmth was gradually being drained as the days crept on giving way to autumn's chill and bleak weather.

Haru and the gang had been hiking for four days without any problems from shadow guards or giant reptilian monsters, if it hasn't been for the weather, blisters and paranoia of possible attack the walking would have been relaxing…well at least for Haru.

"HARUUU!" came a wail from Elie at back of the group. "Could we finally just stop for the night, its freezing and I don't know about you but I don't want to have to set up camp when it's RAINING!"

"Come on Elie just a bit…"

"She has a point" interrupted Musica before Haru could finish his compromise "we don't know when the next shadow guard attack will come so we might as well take advantage of an early night"

"Wow thanks for the support Musica" huffed Haru

"What can I say" shrugged Musica "im fickle, tiered and feel like pissing you off, what are friends for anyway"

"I'm beginning to ask myself the same thing"

"Come on guys don't fight lets just find a place to stop, I'll even cook" beamed Elie

Both Haru and Musica stopped dead in their tracks and wearily turned around to face Elie, it wasn't that Elie was a bad cook, it was just she was abit adventurous and didn't mind substituting ingredients…I mean some people might think beef with poison Ivy source was very original…Haru and Musica just didn't.

"Don't worry Elie we wont fight, don't worry you don't need to cook for us"

"So my cooking isn't good" haru and musica could see elie instinctively reach for her tofu blasters

"No!" continued haru, desperation evident in his voice "your tiered just relax"

"Oh ok then" Elie hand fell away from her weapons and Haru and Musica let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Does this mean you guys will clean up too?" asked a now excited Elie

"…yes" answered Haru and watched as a satisfied Elie zoomed ahead of the group on a mission to find a camp site

"Way to avert catastrophe, to bad about the dishes" laughed Musica

"Yea good luck with that" replied Haru "I cook you clean"

"Your joking, I agreed to help you with your journey not be your maid"

"Well seeing as though I just advert a trip to the hospital I think this is the least you can do"

"…this is the only time"

"guys!" called Elie excitedly

"Coming captain Elie" answered Griff as he sped ahead with Plue in tow.

When Haru and Musica caught up with Elie and the others Elie had just began a small fire and was using griff as a air pump

"Hey guys took you awhile, isn't this a great spot" smiled Elie

And it was, it was only a small clearing, but the ground was flat and lush and on the right of Elie a small fresh water stream could be heard trickling away into the forest. Above them the inky white light of the moon leaked through breaks in the clouds and fell upon Elie's fair skin, illuminating her face while the burning fire was reflected in her eyes.

Soon the tents where up and Haru was busy trying to cook dinner but he was distracted, in the tents he could hear Ellie singing and hear plue "singing" beside her Musica was off somewhere and Griff…Haru could only wonder where he had got to, but that wasn't what was distracting him his thoughts where on Elie and the approaching storm.

She has been through so much but she still so happy, I just don't get it, its only when the lightning strikes that you actually see her paralysing fear, and every time that happens I just cant take it I cant stand to see her like that, it hurts, who knows what it feels like for her.

Haru looked up to the sky there was the occasional flash of light in the distance followed by the low rumble of thunder, but above Elie's music you could barley hear it, and the lighting was to far North to cause a problem.

"Hopefully it'll stay that way" mumbled Haru out loud

"What will?" asked elie who had sneaked up right behind him

"What the hell?" screamed a shocked haru, dropping the nocking the cooking food into the greedy flames of the fire.

"Well that wasn't very smart" quipped an unfazed Elie "you should really watch what you are doing Haru, maybe I should have cooked instead of you"

Getting himself under control haru looked back at elie

"You just sneaked up on me that's all, try warning me before you come up behind me"

Elie leaned forward trapping haru between the fire and herself her amber eyes gazing strait into his.

"I didn't sneak up on you" she said quietly "I called out your name and I thought you nodded"

"Oh I didn't hear you…I guess"

Elie placed a hand on haru shoulder, he felt his body stiffen on body contact 'what's wrong with me'

"Next time I will fire a warning shot to get your attention"

Haru scratched his head… "Maybe you should just sneak up on me it's safer"

they both laughed, and for the first time in a long time nothing really mattered, there was no fear of impending doom, no fear for Elie, or his friends just two friends laughing...friends 'is that all we are?'

A cold sensation on haru head snapped him out of his trance he looked up and saw the rain begin to fall, he felt it cascading down his face. He glanced over at elie who hadn't seemed to notice the rain as it fell over her face, se was still looking at haru, he could feel her eyes penetrating him, and it unnerved him.

"You want to go inside; before we get soaked" he offered a grin on his face

Elie blinked for what seemed like the first time in ages she shook her head and bedrails of water flew in through the air.

"Sure" she smiled back her sombre expression disappeared into a huge grin

"I hope musica gets back to camp soon, I know silver doenst rust but still…"

"Im sure he'll be fine he is probably just trying to avoid cleaning to dishes" replied Haru

As if on cue elie stomach rumbled.

"We havnt had dinner" she added as if finishing off her stomach statement

Haru practically hit himself

"I dropped the dinner into the fire its probably charcoal by now"

"It doesn't matter"

"But your hungry"

"I can wait for a while," Elie tilted her head and smiled "it really doesn't matter, im sure musica has some food wit him."

Haru looked at elie concerned, he knew it was only some food but he was so worried when it came to elie safety she was just so…important.

In the distance a deep rumbling sound echoed Haru felt the sound vibrate though his body he looked over at Elie who nervously at crouched on the ground waiting for more lighting or thunder

Haru sat down next to her a placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, he felt her lean into his chest and his hand slid protectively around her waist, there they waited…