Disclaimer: I don't own Battle B-daman.

Notes: Um, this is the third chapter redone. And holy mother of f- this is a really long chapter. It took me forever to get through my first version of it. READ it ALL – NEARLY EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED/BEEN EDITED

Diamond in the Rough

--

o2:

"Cain, wake up."

"Nmmmph." Not wanting to awaken to the world the blonde turns over and buries his hair under a mountain of overstuffed pillows.

"Cain, wake up." This time the voice was louder, sterner and light prodding transformed into harsh pokes.

"Five more mimphnutes." The blonde pushed himself further into the silk comforters.

"Mimphnutes is not a proper word Cain. I believe the term is minutes." Joshua's hand grabs onto his shoulder and with alarming strength, wrenches him to face common torture known as direct sunlight.

Two minutes of rapid blinking and eye seizure-ing, Cain manages to make out Joshua's blurry figure through half squinted eyes. "That hurt you know," he complains, "some way to treat your superiors."

Joshua ignores Cain. There is a reason why Joshua is in charge, and Cain is well – someone who is put under the charge of someone else.

"Really? So when do I get to meet these 'superiors'?"

A pillow comes flying at Joshua's head along with a mumbled '-uck you'; Joshua catches the first and ignores the second.

With the pillow in one arm, Joshua begins the long process of pulling apart the heavy curtains and looping the cord around each bundle. "You really should get up soon – your new bodyguard will be here soon."

Cain's face immediately wrinkles delicately with disgust and lets out a small noise that on a less dignified and aristocratic person would be interpreted as a groan. "Are you serious?" More shuffling around under the bedsheets. "Why do I have to go see him? Can't you do it?"

"You're going to go see him," Joshua says, as he clears away a pile of blankets so he can sit down next to Cain's foetal-positioned form, "because he is your bodyguard. Not mine."

Another deliberately dramatic sigh, and Cain rolls over, and pulls down the covers just enough so that two purple eyes blink at Joshua in a very (poor) attempt at being fragile, small and cutesy. "But Jo-shu-a---"

"No."

"Awww---but JO-SHU-A—"

"Stop behaving like a child and get on with it."

There is a snort that Joshua translates as 'make me,' and Joshua reacts to it appropriately – by yanking off all covers within reach and throwing it all behind him.

"HEY – I'm not decent!"

The cry comes a few seconds too late as Joshua is exposed to the sight of his best friend, shirtless…and much more unfortunately, pant-less.

"Oh for the love of-", Joshua stops and then tries again.

There are things that are not mentioned in the manual of Best Friendom, and he's never, ever seen a chapter on what to say to your best friend when you discover his pant-less state.

"Look, just – you know," another deep breath, "- I'll go make breakfast, just be dressed before I come back." Joshua inhales. "I mean, I know some things are natural – but really Cain, just-."

Then Cain clicks and he realises exactly what Joshua thinks he's been doing because well, (naked + bed + under covers) and now he can't think of what to say back. "It's not what it looks like," he begins, cringing at how he sounds exactly like a bad soap character. "Really-"

"No, NO," Joshua interjects hastily, and picks up the nearest blanket with the tips of his fingers hurls it towards Cain's still naked figure before dashing out the door. "You really don't have to explain. I'll just go. Make breakfast."

-

Breakfast was an awkward affair, to say the least.

Typically, the household awoke at different times and rarely shared meals. But today, under Joshua's iron house matron fist, nearly everyone had managed to gather around the overly decorated dinning room to the smell of crisp waffles and the sound of popping toast.

Around him, Li's suicidal soldier bread-crusts threw themselves into runny yolk, Sly stirred his coffee, Wen and Asado were in another heated argument over whether masks were lamer than lion hats, Joshua sat opposite, head buried in a newspaper and there was an empty seat two down from Cain's right.

If Cain hadn't still been suffering from utter humiliation from this morning (which was probably why Joshua still hadn't made eye contact), he would have joined in.

Or at least told Wen and Asado that masks and lion hats were equally in the loser category and the only thing that was even worthwhile wearing were trenchcoats.

Except Cain was.

So as he drowned his waffle castle in syrup, Cain thought about how, how right this felt. And this right was all going to go wrong.

The last few years had been hard. Hard and confusing and wrong and right. But he had made it; he'd gotten to this point. And now, three years down the track, these loser-friends around this stupid not-oval-not-round table where actually, like his family. Not that he'd ever say something as sappy and as stupid as that to them.

Except for maybe Joshua. But Joshua was kind of psychic, so Cain figured Joshua probably knew anyway.

It was a system, they just worked. Sure, half the time they didn't work well together, but it was still something that Cain felt safe in, secure.

Now it was all going to be ruined by this new bodyguard.

There was always going to be the risk, Joshua had told him over and over again. Nothing will be the same forever, Joshua always said whenever Cain had these moments where he just panicked because realised change was happening. But Cain had heard the words, received the awkward man-hug but never actually taken it in.

But then it happened. Then they got Jou.

Subconsciously, Cain stabbed the right wall of his waffle kingdom as his thoughts drifted to Jou.

And now Jou was, was not okay. But it had still been ok, because the doctors said that there could be hope. That they'd be therapy and drugs, and it would hurt like a bitch – but with determination (and hell, Jou was practically made on happiness, hugs, big-brother-ness and determination), Jou would be alright again.

But then months had passed, and Jou was still not okay. Joshua had wanted to start looking for a replacement, but Cain had shouted and screamed and stamped his feet like the world's most annoying five-year-old so Joshua had given up.

Except it all didn't matter. Another extra month didn't matter because then they found out that it was all over. That Jou was always going to be not okay, and they had to find someone new and Joshua didn't get it – Joshua thought it was ok, that Cain would get over it.

Only it wasn't ok. Because Joshua got a replacement, Joshua, with his nice words and smile, Joshua who had always had his back and everyone else in this house – nobody, nobody 'cept Cain could see what they were really doing.

By hiring someone else, they taking this family, taking what they had – and ripping it apart.

The fork pierced through waffle and slams down on the plate. The clatter causes a multitude of heads to stop and stare. Joshua sets down his paper and fixes Cain with a reproachful look.

Cain brushes it off and pushes his plate to the side. "Not hungry."

-

Gray stared at the hands of the clock in the centre of the town as he stepped off the train. He was running late by at least forty-five minutes.

Damn late trains. Damn too-early trains. Damn annoying ticket conductors. Damn tickets that go missing at critically important times.

In his left hand, a crumpled piece of paper with hastily scrawled instructions blinked at him innocently. Gray's left eye twitched.

Damn MAPS.

This day was not off to a good start.

He took another look at the map and frowned. If he was supposed to left, why was there only a road leading to the right and where in the world was that big park? Scowling at the thing he attempted to concentrate and focused on the lines and blobs that made up the city.

Right, so he would turn right and then he should be at a park. Eyes still on the map he continued along the street…

CRASH.

He blinked groggily, his vision mildly fuzzy from the impact of the crash and then fell back onto the pavement as bright-red hair and inquisitive eyes violated all terms of private space.

His crash-ee was a teenage boy, he looked a few years younger than Gray. He had red hair stuck out in two clumps held back by green aviator goggles and bright blue eyes accompanied by a much-too-cheerful grin.

The boy dusted off imaginary grime from his white jumpsuit, then jumped to his feet like some sort of cat. Then he stuck out a gloved hand and in front of Gray.

"Here, lemme help you up," he says – the accent sounds familiar to Gray's ears. Close enough to his own, but with a lighter, less harsh tilt. Gray leaves the hand hanging and gets up without help.

"Gee, sorry bout the crash. I wasn't really watchin' were I was goin' cos I was trying to make sure Tommy wasn't snitchin' fish from the Mr. Crabbypants over there." The boy smiled sheepishly as he gestured to the frowning man near the fish stand who was threatening a small black cat.

"It's alright." Gray says, eager to move on and away from the conversation. He was already running late – there was no need to keep dawdling.

"So, haven't seen you around before. You new?" The redhead questioned.

"New job." A life-time of ignoring others has showed Gray that short answers usually make people go away faster.

"Awesome. We'll prolly be seein' a lot of each other. I mean – I'm like everywhere, you know? Oh, and my name's Yamato. Yamato Delgado. And this is Tommy over there. Nice to meet you…" Yamato trails off, suddenly realising he doesn't know blonde stranger's name.

"Gray Vincent." Inwardly, Gray's brain does a double-take, why the hell was this guy still talking to him? Did he not understand the rules of –go-away-I'm-BUSY?

"So, Gray you ditching work or somethin'?" Yamato smiles again, his teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

"No."

"So you're lost," Yamato deducts. Gray openshis mouth to protest, but the redhead has already snatched the map from his hand, fore-head scrunched in deep-map-reading-thought.

"Well, that's up from Lamplight…yeah, hey, look it's our café and…hmmm…" Yamato's hand traces through the streets, occasionally pausing- "WOAH."

Gray blinks. "What?"

"You, you're one of Prince's guys?" There is shock at first, bright blue eyes nearly popping out of their sockets and then Yamato's smile reappears, slightly more stretched out and a heck more fake than before.

"Yeah, you got a problem with that?" Without knowing it, the defensive-words were out of his mouth, and subconsciously his body moved into a pre-battle stance, one hand hovering over his b-damon case.

Yamato gets this signal loud and clear. BACK OFF. "Look man, I'm sorry – didn't mean to offend ya or anything," he says, his words running together. His words sound apologetic, his eyes don't match – for a second, Gray swears the redhead looks…angry. "Just didn't know – Prince is a pretty big name round these parts."

"I'm not offended," Gray says – and then wonders why he would be. And what the hell a prince had to do with anything. "I just got here, today. First day of work."

"Oh." Yamato relaxes, and the smile stops being so plastic. "Well, you'll find out soon enough anyway," he says lightly. "If you're lost I'll take you up to the Mansion."

"I'm not lost," Gray says automatically, and then reconsiders the situation. "But it would be faster, if you could lead the way."

"Yeah – sure thing!" Yamato turns, ready to head off before he spins around, head cocked to the side. "By the way – where'd you come from? Your accent –"

"Windtoon."

"Hey – that makes us neighbours! Cowtoon representing here!" Yamato is almost bounding up and down with excitement at this new revelation.

"I'm here with my mom's café. We kinda travel around the place and I do what I can to help out and sorry, I'm getting carried away, ain't I? I should show you the mansion and maybe we could meet up later? Get to know each other a bit better? And this is my b-damon Cobalt Blade, awesome huh? Good old Cobalt was found on me when I was a kid and I was still raised by cats and then Mie found me and took me in and she's been my foster mom ever since and….wait I gotta show you to the mansion don't I? Just follow me and I got Tommy for my sixth birthday and he's the best cat in the world but he eats way too much and I always get the blame for the missing fish and food and then everyone yells at me or threatens me and one time Mr. Crabbypants threw a dead fish at me and….."

The automatic loner-sense installed in Gray's brain since birth filtered out the mindless chatter of Yamato as they walked down the busy streets. Still, it was nice to have a guide, even if Gray didn't really need one – and the one-sided conversation left a constant, though not wholly-unpleasant soundtrack as he walked.

Gray couldn't help smiling inwardly as the redhead rambled on as they headed towards the Mansion. But that expression, that fake smile and the nervous pitch of Yamato's voice from the mention of his new job – that had definitely left Gray with an impression of something.

Something bad, gut instinct insisted – prodding through the hazy layers of one-sided conversations and the scent of lunchtime. Something was definitely wrong back there…

No, this was a new start. A new beginning – this was a miracle; and you didn't doubt miracles. In fact, Yamato was probably just in awe – Joshua had said that the McDonnell name was pretty big in business and stuff right? So obviously that would make some people nervous. Yeah, made perfect sense.

He takes a deep breath, before extracting the niggling thoughts and pushing them to the far corners of his mind. Remember, he reminds himself – you don't doubt a miracle.

Gray was not entirely sure that this, this place was even a house.

Even from outside wrought iron gates – the greenery stretched across all edges of his vision and in front of him, a wide drive-way leading up to an architectural wonder in the distance, nothing felt real.

He lifts up a hand and gingerly presses it against warm metal, half-expecting it to disappear and for him to wake up back in Windtoon.

But it didn't, and when Gray closed his eyes and reopened – he was still standing in front of a castle-on-a-hill with his hand pressed against the gate. Suddenly metal vibrates underneath his hand, and he jumps back in shock.

Slowly, like the opening sequence of the a movie, the leaves on the gate move, keys to a complex locking mechanism and without the traditional squeal of hinges, the gates unlock themselves.

Bzzzzttt.

Gray looks up at sky, then catches sight of a white square imbedded on the gilded nameplate on the gate. An intercom. "You're late."

"I know – I'm so sorry, there was a mix-up at the station," Gray says back – and then feels stupid for apologizing to a white square.

The system crackles. "Never mind. Just leave your bags at the gate – someone will be round to collect them – just follow the main path up to the entrance. A lot of people are very eager to meet you."

-

"- bags will be taken up to your room, I'll show you where that is after we get through the introductions."

"Introductions?" Gray asks, feeling a little queasy at being surrounded in a room full of strangers who want to ask questions.

"We have a number of staff who live on site – you'll spend a great deal of time with them." "It's not as bad as you may think," he continues and Gray blushes, knowing that Joshua had fully got that grimace at the words 'spend' and 'time with them'.

Beep. A red light flashes from Joshua's pocket, and he reaches into it. A look of exasperation passes across Joshua's face, before he turns to Gray apologetically. "Sorry, I need to sort out a small problem, why don't you go ahead and wait for me?"

"Remember, it's just two corridors down from here – the first door on your left!" Joshua's already starting power-walking off before Gray can object, "I'll be there as soon as I can!"

-

"B-DA FIREEEE-"

BZZTTTT. BEEP. BEEP.

Clatter.

A series of vibrations echo across individual pockets in the room, instantly training stops. "Aww man," Wen complains as he flicks open his PDA, "I was totally about to own your ass."

"As if," Asado retorts, opening the newest message, "you couldn't kick my ass even if I was blindfolded and missing my right arm."

Sensing another prolonged argument turned b-da battle, Sly walks up behind the duo, effectively acting as a human wall. "Hey, we got priorities everyone."

Behind him, Li nods emphatically, holding up a 3 second sketch of a stickman with red hair and blonde bangs.

"Yeah," Sly says, resisting the urge to bang his head against the nearest wall, "we gotta go get Cain off the roof again."

-

One thing that was great about this place, was how big the corridors were. Actually, there were probably lots of great things about this place – only Gray hadn't really been taking note so far.

He did however, find the suit-of-armours mounted against the wall vaguely threatening.

Either way, threatening suits of armours or not, he'd gotten to the training room with ease. He'd walked up to it to find it completely deserted – half of the pins were knocked down, stray b-da balls littered the floor but there was no sign of any visible life forms.

He'd thought about entering, but his foot froze just in front of the door. Somehow, the room felt used, like he needed permission.

So he'd stepped back and waited. And then he saw it, an half-opened door at the end of the corridor; with nothing better to do, he went towards it for a better look.

-

"CAIN!"

From his vantage point on top of the roof, Cain rolls over and fakes temporary deaf-ness.

"CAIN MCDONELL – I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME PERFECTLY WELL!"

Damn right I can, Cain thinks, rubbing his sore ears from the onslaught of Joshua and his megaphone of doom.

"EITHER YOU COME DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW OR I'LL-"

"-or you'll what J? Come up here and get me?" He leans forward, just enough to avoid falling off the roof to certain death, but still able to get a good glimpse of Joshua on the 3rd floor balcony. Cain snickers at the reaction – out of the three things that terrify Joshua the most, (spiders, dust and heights), heights is the enemy that Joshua will never overcome.

"NO – BUT THEY WILL FOR ME."

Unfortunately, in his great plans of avoiding Joshua, Cain has forgotten that the other members of the household are not petrified of heights.

The other five, who are currently scaling the roof and grinning at him with eerily psychotic expressions.

-

It was a simple room. There was nothing particular about that would've caught his attention, in fact – he nearly overlooked it at first.

But he hadn't, because at that moment a ray of light had shone through and hit the most, the most surreal, amazingly crafted b-damon that Gray had ever seen.

A dark purple coats metal with sleek red and yellow markings. The design was larger than his own, it radiated power and it's core system looked more specialized, more defined.

If Gray's own Chrome Zephyr was beautiful, then this b-damon, this treasure was a god.

Without even realising it, the blonde was pulled towards it, his hands itching to pick it up and examine it – to hold it and then, against all better judgement, he picked it up.

It was ice cold, and weighed heavily on his hand. He ghosted his hands over the controls first, before taking a deep breath and placing his hands on them. It felt odd – different from his own lightweight model, but it's weight and size made Gray feel more powerful-

"Don't you fucking touch my b-damon!"

The door slams behind him, and Gray barely has time to place the b-damon on the shelf before he's slammed onto the desk.

Gloved hands wrench Gray's own behind his back, and pressing weight of a more toned body hinders any hope of movement. "Who thehell are you?"

The hold loosens for a split second – long enough for Gray to raise his head from the table only to be slammed back down twice as hard. "They send you after me? Is that it?" Hot breath glides down Gray's neck from the uncomfortably close contact. "They tell you to keep quiet as well?"

"No," Gray manages to hiss back, his face pressed against the desk. "I have no idea what you're on about."

"Like hell you don't!"

In one fluid move, Gray finds himself flipped over to face his assailant, wrists released, then trapped again under leather gloves. Narrow blue eyes glare lasers into his skull, and somewhere in the back of his mind, Gray wonders why so many people in Neon seem to be scarily blue-eyed.

"You gonna look me straight and tell me you have no idea?"

"I told you, I don't know what you're on about 'k?" Gray says, half-breaking into a yell to match Blue-eye's volume, "What I do know is that you need to go take some pills or get count to thirt-"

Blue-eyes lunges forward, and the momentary release is all it takes for Gray to duck, his right leg hooking itself around leather boots. Gray jerks his foot, and Blue-eyes is suddenly set off balance, only to fall forward instead of backwards.

Two foreheads collide and the duo fall back on the desk with a loud clatter, knocking several spare parts to the ground.

Suddenly, instead of just invading his personal space, Blue-eyes is right on top of him, widened blue-eyes boring into his own and holyb-damage, his lips on Gray's cheekbone and Gray does what any self-respecting vessel of testosterone would do.

He knees Blue-eyes in the crotch.

-

Outside, 12 pairs of wide eyes capture the moment in perfect freeze-frame.

"Did he just kick Enyjyu in -"

"HOLY B-da mage-"

"Kids these days –"

Awed Silence.

Insane, maniac cackling.

"Oh, my, b-damage, hahaha, fuck – Joshua I think I'm in love."

-

So yeah, I know the yaoi ball is rolling a little slower this time….but when I re-read this chapter it was just so long and confusing and so many things happened yanno? . not to mention I can't remember why the f- Enjyu 'marks' gray – apart from that it made a great make-out scene. -_-'