Disclaimers: I don't own Battle B-daman….obviously

Alright, I'm back….here's the next chapter!! And a Cain Vs. Gray b-da battle! With some bets placed on…well ya all have to read to find out!

Last time:

"Are you alright Gray? Your lip is bleeding."

"I'm fine. Bit my lip." Gray had always had a pure honesty policy. And he was telling the truth; of course Joshua would assume that he had bit his own lip of course.

"Oh, so you're the bum-bodyguard," the arrogant baritone came from Cain who had just been elbowed by Joshua who was just glaring at him and mouthing, 'Manners.'

Gray had the feeling that his little one-year visit was going to be very, very, interesting. And probably not in a good way.

Games:

The most amazing amethyst eyes coolly looked him over, and for a second Gray felt all of his resolve slipping away. In fact, it was like the eyes could see right through him, right to the core of his soul but then his defenses kicked in and he returned the glance.

But not before adding the signature Gray smirk to the seemingly aloof look. Gray felt a small burst of satisfaction as the violet eyes blinked startled that he had the nerve to look back. Obviously the blonde in front of him that Yamato had dubbed 'Prince' was used to having people bending backwards for him. Not that was going to be happening as long as he was around though, Gray thought.

"Gray. Gray Michael Vincent." He offered his hand politely.

"Nice to meet you, Gray," the tone was syrupy and seemingly charming, Gray though, being an expert at being able to see under the masks and pretenses of others sensed obvious dislike. "My name is Cain," again the fake smile. "Of course under public surveillance it would be more suitable to address me as Sir."

Another simple trick; the use of Sir obviously made 'Sir' feel more in control and him as the dominant one in the partnership. Then the handshake; which had turned into a hidden competition between the two. He could feel the leather gloved handgrip tightly onto his own and the grip was fairly tight, as he knew the other was trying to overpower him. Gray pushed some of his strength into his hand, making sure he had enough to stand equally against Cain but not enough to overpower him. After all, he did have to work here for a year and getting on your boss's hit list wasn't exactly what he was aiming for.

"Well, then shall we have a friendly match?" The invitation was mockingly delivered, despite all the polite wording. It was clear that Cain didn't think he was much of a challenge.

"Hn. Direct Hit Battle." It was his standard grunt, which symbolized the end of a conversation and he whipped out his b-damon in response.

----------------------------------

"B-da Fire!" Cain fires aimlessly and Gray grits his teeth in annoyance. What was the point of playing if Cain thought he was some sort of amateur? All right, professional he was not but still, it wasn't as if he hadn't faced a single person in his life.

He easily returns the shot just slightly harder and watches Cain's eyes widen. While the shot was nowhere near powerful it nearly hits the b-damon as Cain's guard is completely off.

Obviously Cain has underestimated him by too much. Amethyst eyes narrow further and Gray knows that from now on the guard isn't going to be left quite so open. His opponent may not take him like a serious opponent but he was going to think of him as an amateur either.

And Cain returns the shot, a little harder this time and also slightly faster. He mimics the shot.

They go on; exchanging shots, strike for strike neither using full potential. In both of their opinions, it could go on forever.

Gray grits his teeth as what seems like the hundredth shot is repelled. He knows that in stats Cain has more power and endurance not to mention experience. His only edge over Cain was the fact that his was a speed-based b-damon and that Cain was still underestimating him.

Of course that itself was bugging the hell out of him since Cain seemed to almost fire off at him randomly, not even bothering to try so that the shots missed him only inches but would never hit him.

Still dodging and returning shot after shot had eventually worn him down and he knew he would have to end it soon.

There had to be some way where he could use speed as an incentive….he would not be able to beat his opponent using power but he had a rapid fire blaster which meant it would be easier for him to send out multiple b-da balls.

Maybe….maybe…alright a test run first.

"B-da Fire!!" He launches his main attack in a mediocre power range and watches as Cain sends one single launch to repel it and the whole pack scatters.

Gray hides the smile. If he can concentrate hard enough and get the angles right, this battle would be finished.

He focuses and hopes that Cain thinks he's making a final attempt. "B-DA FIRE!!!!"

He yells, hoping it sounds convincingly enough like a person using their last shot.

Cain believes it alright, Gray can see the victory smirk dancing on his lips. Again the single shot comes right into the center and repels the attack and then….

"B-da Fire." Gray pulls his hat over his eyes and attacks with another single shot of his own. It hits the ball, but instead of stopping it hits then flies across the table and then…click.

Gray looks up to see Cain's astonished face as the b-da ball hits his b-daman and the shield folds down with a 'beep.'

His inner mind does a little victory dance but his outer self is far more dignified. Maybe that was pure luck, maybe that was a one time fluke but still.

However he was not going to stick around any longer. He had done what was polite, now was time to leave. He exits but not before throwing one last look at the still stunned 'prince.'

"We should play again sometime."

Two could play at this game.

----------------------------------

As soon as the duo had left along with Joshua who had also marched off with the 'Am going to give you a lecture' look the former silent audience suddenly came alive.

"Ha, knew it. Told ya blondie was some sorta prodigy." Wen crowed triumphantly. "Now pay up, cub." He stretched his hand out to the annoyed Asado.

"My name's not Cub. It's Asado." The lion turned around miffed, a cute pout adorning his face. "Anyway, the bet's off. I mean; Prince probably didn't wanna embarrass blondie that much."

"Hey, ya can't back out!" Wen protested. "Yes, brother won that one!" Li added, catching the attention of the others.

"I'm with Asado. I've seen Prince to his full potential and that was him on a off day." Sly's voice joined in.

"Hey, that's just gangin' up on me! I mean just cos you're his cheerleaders!" Wen was already getting mad. "Yes, that's not fair on brother!" Li put in his ten cents too.

"Oh c'mon Wen. It's not like you don't back Enjyu against Cain either."

"Are you tryin' to say that I like that bastard?!" More dangerous arm flailing and the beginnings of a fighter's stance appear.

"Calm down Wen. All Asado's trying to say is that you would pick Enjyu over Cain any day." The voice of reason a.k.a Sly intervenes, calmly blocking both from each other.

"I do not!"

"You do so!"

"Do not!"

"Do so!"

"Children, children calm down."

"Yes Sly's right brother."

Both retreat reluctantly under the gazes of the two more mature members.

"Fine." Wen mutters.

"Yeah, me too. But he started it."

"Hey, you two quit bickering like a bunch of idiots." Sly says, folding his arms and giving his best matron look.

"We're not bickering." "Yeah, we're arguing. Anyway you can leave the mother hen role to Joshua."

"Come on, let's just go have lunch alright brother?" Li asks turning to leave.

"Yeah lunch, I'm starving too!" Asado chimes in enthusiastically.

"Hey, I want some food as well!" Wen yells and races out of the door. "Bet I can beat you to the kitchen, Cub!"

"In your dreams…and stop calling me CUB!!"

Smiling at the antics of his friends, Sly carefully shuts the door behind him and he begins to follow the others to the kitchen.

-----------------------------------------------------

The sound of whizzing b-da balls fill the private training room as each shot met it's mark perfectly and easily knocked over the small statues situated on various points of the room.

Hearing the door open from the slight creak, the redhead tenses up before recognizing the butler's voice.

"What do you want." It didn't come out like a question, more like a statement a young troublesome child makes after being told off for the hundredth time.

"For you to stop harassing blondie!" Joshua sent one of his matron-like glares towards the redhead.

"Who said I was harassing bumpkin?" More shots were fired in between his sentences. "Last I heard, wasn't it his Royal Pain in the Ass that was throwing a fit about bumpkin?"

"Firstly Enjyu, it would help the relationship between Cain and yourself if you bothered to address him properly."

The statues had popped up again and a fresh round began for Enjyu. "Like what? In case you haven't noticed, 'bitch' isn't exactly making me love him either."

"Yes, yes, I know. But taking the first step could be the key to-"

"Forget it, kay. Now back to bumpkin."

"Right, and I am sure 'bumpkin' would appreciate it if you called him by his first name or at least his last one."

"Hmph. You're here to give me another freakin lecture right?"

"Of course. I know you're not exactly the most social of people but the so could you just leave him alone or something?"

"Clucking like a mother hen again? Remind me, what did I do?" The words rolled off Enjyu's tongue like a ritual chant and he paused for a second to regain his breath.

"You know what I mean! What in the heavens possessed you to do that?"

"Nothing. I felt like it." Blasting has hereby resumed.

"Well Enjyu, you can not do things whenever you just feel like it!"

"I just did."

"You know what you did! And I'm demanding you apologize to him!"

"What, the little welcome present?"

"You call that a present? Enjyu, 'present' means to give as a present or make a gift of something! Molesting someone does not count as a present! People, Enjyu have emotions and feelings. You just cannot go off and do whatever you feel like with no regard for the other's well being! Enjyu, Enjyu! Are you listening to me?"

"Hmph. No need to shout, heard you. Just not listening."

He felt a hand grip his wrist and he found himself being wrenched from his focus to face Joshua directly. "Look here you bastard. This kid is not here because he wants to be. And you are GOING to LEAVE him ALONE. Understand? I've been damn tolerant of you; I've tried to turn a blind eye to your little games. You are going to leave blondie alone."

Enjyu almost blinked but that of course would've shattered his calm demeanor. Joshua, the polite ever-sincere butler he had known for at least five years had just gotten angry, over all things a new bodyguard. So maybe he underestimated the blondie, maybe, just maybe bumpkin wouldn't go crying home, after all if he had Joshua defending him that fiercely he must have been worth something.

Or maybe, he thought as he watched Joshua stalk off, the leather shoes clacking down the hallway, it was a personal issue. Maybe the ever-polite butler was finally breaking down his mask, and if it was happening, he would be there to witness it all. For sure.

--------------------------------------------------

As the blonde entered the room, it froze once again.

Gray wondered what was clearly so fascinating about him but decided to figure that out later. Grabbing a clean cup off the table, he filled it with water then made a rapid exit. He needed to know why they were all staring in utter amazement. It couldn't be because he had beaten Cain, everyone in that room who had any knowledge whatsoever would be able to tell what a lucky shot that was and how Cain had let his guard down completely.

No, it was probably something do with what he looked like. Or how he smelt…. great. He hoped to hell it wasn't the second option.

Now for the bathroom…he had remembered it was just down the hallway. Well, he vaguely remembered that there where several more but this one's location had been the only one he remembered.

------------------------------------

Asado watched the newcomer walk off, he turned around to Wen.

"So, how much do you wanna bet?"

"On what?"

"His virginity...duh. I'm backing Cain."

"Enjyu definitely."

"Cain."

"Enjyu."

"Cain!"

"Enjyu!"

"CAIN!!!"

"ENJYU!!"

"Quit squabbling over it. That's why you two are betting right?" Sly sighed, there really had to be a new referee sometime.

"Yes, you two. Anyway Joshua will murder you if you shout that loudly."

"Right...I forgot...the mother hen and his rules..." Both slumped down defeated.

"Enjyu..." Wen whispered.

"Cain..." Asado shot back.

"Be quiet and just eat that biscuit." Sly promptly shoves two in each mouth causing both to choke on it.

There is a silence as everyone munches away then Li breaks the silence.

"How do you plan on finding out anyway?"

-----------------------------------

Entering the room he immediately locked the door and proceeded to look through the mirror.

He didn't seem to look any different than usual. His wind tousled blond hair, his aqua eyes and….OH. He had just figured out what they had all been staring at.

It looked like not only had the redheaded maniac who had molested him earlier in the morning bit his lip; he had also left a different sort of mark. A small red jagged line that started from underneath his chin to the base of his neck was also there. The knife! So that was what it had made when it had been up near his neck.

He wondered what was so startling about it. It was just a small zigzagging line down his neck for heavens sake! Maybe it was supposed to mean something?

Pulling up his collar so he could hide the mark properly he went off down the myriad of halls to find Joshua. After all from what he had seen while Cain was the official leader it seemed Joshua held all the strings from behind.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Gray had just managed to get hopelessly lost again when Joshua appeared right behind, causing him to yelp like a schoolgirl. Gray began to wonder if Joshua was by chance some sort of fairy godmother. And then tried hard not to snicker as he pictured Joshua in a fairy outfit complete with simpering voice and sparkly pink wand.

"Are you alright? You seem a bit lost."

"I'm fine." Gray answered curtly trying to grasp hold of his normal self. He suddenly pulled down the collar so that Joshua could see the mark.

The reaction, one of utter fury masked by mere annoyance. "From your reaction this obviously means something." Gray stated, pushing for more information.

"Not really, it isn't very important. Say, I was wondering, you took an awful long time to get to the training room…you did find your way there alright didn't you?"

From the perceptive glance Gray immediately knew Joshua thought that he hadn't just got lost. And the look also had the bit where he knew the butler was pretty damn sure what had happened. This were Gray always replied with blunt honesty.

"Yeah, I just got molested by a hooker."

Instead of the rebuke he was supposed to get he found Joshua letting out a small chuckle.

"So, the mark?" He asked as the butler recomposed himself.

"Like I said before, it's not very important."

Gray inwardly sighed, this politeness thing was making it very hard for him to get any information what so ever.

"Symbol?" Gray hoped he would get something like an answer.

"I…I think it's supposed to be a lightning bolt," pausing, Joshua turned around.

"Your room's three corridors to the left from here, second room to your immediate right. First one is your personal bathroom. Third one is an elevator that leads directly from your room to the main foyer."

Gray stared as he watched the other retreat slowly down the stairs. How one single person could remember that all was beyond his comprehension but he was still grateful for the advice. He really didn't plan on getting molested by another hooker on his first day. Joshua really was some sort of fairy.

----------------------------------------------------------

"I'm right behind you, so you better not try anything." Joshua glared at the rather reluctant redhead.

"You know there's no point in doing this right? I mean I'm gonna get to blondie anyway." Enjyu almost whined in vexation and if it weren't for the stern expression Joshua had on, he would've almost snickered.

Sure Enjyu put up the big cover, attitude and all but in reality it was sort of like dealing with a rebellious little kid, much like Cain was a spoilt brat. In fact, there were more similarities than differences between the duo anyway, which was probably why they fought all the time, he guessed.

"Well even if there isn't, it's polite and will make me feel better." Joshua answered then gently pushed him forward. "Time to make the apology."

Enjyu sighed impatiently. He really didn't know why he bothered doing this sort of thing for Joshua, he really protested and all but for some reason whenever Joshua said anything at all everyone seemed to jump out like marionettes and automatically do his bidding. He had often wondered how Joshua seemed to do it, and having found no answer just assumed he had some sort of mind-controlling power.

Turning around the corridor he walked over to the door he opened it.

And Joshua stared in amazement as Gray opened, bought an expensive looking vase down on Enjyu's head and knocked the redhead out.

"Gray?"

The blonde looked up with a self-satisfied smirk. "Accidents happen."

-------------------------------------------

Begin placing your bets people...cos the outcome of this can be changed...of course lots of molesting and fluff from both sides but still...the final outcome. So plz review!!

Next time...Joshua thinks Chrome Zephyr needs an upgrade...and guess which mechanic he has in mind...