I don't own Rave Master.

Epiloge

As I on the cold floor, the world goes in and out of focus. In the distance I hear noises. Shouts, clangs, explosions, fire but I can't bring myself to move. I feel strong hands grab me and the slight movement causes my head to spin. I think I'm being carried? I can't even tell which way is up.

Echos of muffled yelling ring in my ears.

"Take her! Get her to safety!"

"Is she hurt?"

"I-I dunno…"

The voices slip away from me and the world once again leaves me.

I'm getting sick of this.

For an unmeasurable amount of time I go in and out of consciousness. I can't figure out where I am or what's happening except for one instance. The world is still a blurred mess and I can't move without waves of dizziness pressing down on me.

Someone is beside me. They speak but the words are so far away it seems for a time. I try to listen to what they're saying. They speak with such a gentleness to their voice that leaves me with a familiar feeling that I know I've felt before but I just can't place it right now.

I can feel my hand. Only just barely. It tingles like it's nearly numb and I can't move the individual fingers but if I put effort into it, I think I can lift it up. It's strange because I don't have that awareness in the rest of my body but my right hand at least has some modicum of strength to move. I use it to reach out to the blurry form of the person sitting beside me, his face coming into focus just slightly. I touch what I'm sure is his cheek brushing my hand over it gingerly. That's all I can muster for now. A sentence escapes my lips in my delirium before I can give it too much thought.

"I love you…"

I can't think straight enough to put together why but his face matches the words.

For a moment he straitens up and his cheeks flush red at the sound of my weak and tired voice. Slowly he relaxes into my touch and I feel my hand being held by his. His calloused thumb stroking my knuckles.

"I love you too…." I hear him say but just barely. I want to know what he's saying I fight against the drowsiness to capture his words.

"Elie…. I want you to know…. Everything about how I feel…. There's so much to tell you…. On this whole adventure, every time I've felt afraid, every time I was certain that I'd be killed or fail at what I'm trying to accomplish, I'd think of you and suddenly, I feel like I can do anything. I can take on the world and anyone in it… I see you smiling in the face of uncertainty. I watch you time and time again display the kind of bravery I aspire to have. I feel like your cheerfulness and courage rubs off on me. That's why when I think about saving the world, the first thing that comes to mind is creating a world where you'll be safe and no one tries to hurt you. I've only gotten as strong as I have because of that. Because of you. I'll never stop being grateful to all you've done for me. It's more than I know how to explain. That's why…"

His voice cracks and he puts his head down.

"I'm sorry…"

I know there's more he's trying to tell me but his voice is beginning to drift away and the rhythm he creates softly running his thumb over my hand back and forth as he holds it is soothingly hypnotic.

….

The next time I awake I'm fully conscious. Finally. Sitting up in bed I look all around the room. I'm in taking in every last detail. The bed, the window, the door the night stand, everything. I want to be tethered down to the real world again. I'm sick of these dream states and want to feel awake and alert. I wiggle my toes and clenched and unclenched my hands. They move the way I want them to. That's good. I have control over myself and the strength to move as I wish. It's about time. I don't think I'll take that for granted again for as long as I live.

Haru sleeps next to me, kneeling down on the floor with his head and folded arms resting on the bed. My movements must have awoke him because he begins to stir. He looks up at me and we share a silent look for a long moment before I brake the silence.

"What time is it? How long have I been sleeping for?"

Haru looks at the clock. "Um, for about 11 hours. You woke up a couple of times before but it seemed like you weren't really aware. Do you remember?"

Haru blushes as he asks this. I know what he's referring to. He wants to know if I remember his confession. The memories are hazy, almost like they come from a dream but I still remember his words.

"I remember flashes. I could hear echos. See foggy visions. But I felt too weak to move. I…" suddenly the reason I was in that situation struck me. Lucia.

I remember all the time I spent with him in vivid detail. How he manipulated me. Changed me. Tried to force me to fall for him by shaping me to his will. I wring my hands together anxiously. "Haru I… He…". My voice cracked. How could I tell him what he did to me. The things I did while he had me.

Haru grabs the bed's blanket and moves to tuck me in again. "You can tell me anything Elie, and you can tell me when you're ready to talk about it. Just focus on resting for now."

"No, I've done enough of that for now. I swing my legs over the side of the bed. Haru only nods and sets the blanket down and sits beside me. It's good to be able to say 'no' and be listened to. No argument, no trying to convince me. Just believing me.

I notice bandages and scrapes all over Haru. His arms are wrapped up in gauze from and nasty green and purple bruises dot his shoulders. There's a cut on his lip and that's all I can see. I can only imagine what else he has under his clothes. He was in a pretty nasty fight.

"What happened after I… fell asleep?" I ask rather lamely. I'm not sure how else to put it.

"I kicked Lucia's ass good… Well at least enough so that he couldn't catch us. I had to make the choice to finish him and Sinclair off or get you and everybody away to safety and well here we are."

"He- he still has his power?" My heart hammers in my chest. Visions of his desperate face flash in my mind. I know how far he went to keep me with him. I know how easy it would be for him to take me right back to being his doll. He'd come for me. It's not a matter of if but when. He's probably planning to get me right now. He might already be on the way. My breath quickens and I feel a panic attack coming on.

"He-He'll come for me! He's gonna-"

"Elie." Haru doesn't miss a beat. He takes both of my hands in his and holds them tight. His hands are big, warm and calloused and some of his fingers are wrapped in bandages. I feel how strong his grip is, but it's still gentle and reassuring.

He gets down on his knees to kneel in front of me capturing my gaze with his serious eyes. We don't break eye contact for even an instant. His face is etched in pure determination.

"Listen to me. He. will. NEVER. lay a hand on you again. Nobody will EVER make you do anything or go anywhere you don't want to ever again. NOT. EVER. Okay? I SWEAR it. I swear it on my own life."

He has such intense conviction in his eyes, I can't help myself but believe him. Suddenly the panic begins to dissipate and I feel safe. The longer I look into Haru's eyes the more safe I feel.

But then I see something else in there. Another look alongside the conviction. Shame. And tears begin to well up but he won't break his gaze on me.

"I know." He continues on. His voice has a crack in it. "I know what you must be thinking, 'Who is this pathetic loser to say something like that?' After all the broken promises to protect you in the past. And you're probably thinking that I'm too weak to do anything to really help you… but … please… Believe me. I'm going to get stronger. I'm going to get strong enough so that I can protect you from anyone who tries to hurt you. I know you deserve better than my lame attempts and I let you down. But just once more, Give me a chance. Let me promise you again… I will protect you…. I'll protect you Elie. "

Tears freely fall down Haru's big shiny eyes as they stare up at me through his hair and the same goes for me. I think back to the night he nearly went insane trying to reach me and get me away from Lucia. How far he went and how battered he was. He'd do it all over again, no hesitation. The thought terrified me. I don't want to see him like that ever again, but I know there's nothing I can say to sway him. That's just the way it is.

But it's not the way it is right this moment. I have only guesses as to what the future will bring, likely more heart ache but for this exact moment. Haru's here with me and I'll just appreciate that.

I kneel down to be on his level and lean into him. I put my ear to his chest, wanting nothing more than to listen to his heart beat. It skips a beat and then pounds hard and fast as I wrap my arms around his torso to hug him. It comforts me just to hear it thump after the close calls he's had in the past. The noise reminds me he's alive and with me now.

"You don't even need to ask. Of course I'll give you another chance. You're the best Haru… and you ARE going to get stronger. I believe in you. And for right now. I'm safe with you. I always feel safe with you…"

I hear his heart slow down to a more steady pace. It's as though a heavy weight dissipates from off his shoulders. He lets all his tension go and relaxes onto me. His arms feel so strong and protective yet so warm and gentle as they wrap around my shoulders and practically melt over me. One hand reaches it's way up to the back of my head and presses me more firmly into him. He rests his head onto mine, burying his tear stained face into my hair as if it were a pillow.

He lets out a breath and sighs with contentment. "…. Yeah…. You're safe. You're definitely safe now…. Elie…."