A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are now in the Year of the Horse! Now we all know why Jackal can't say no to anyone, and now he finds Yukimura waiting for him in his home… this can't be good. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 4 – Let's Talk

"Now, let's talk," Yukimura giggled as he lead (read forced) his player into the other room so that they could discuss what had happened earlier that day, and if there was a little reinforcement given (through terrorizing him), then all the better. At least the bluenette knew this would never happen again… at least for a while. He knew that with the crowd he had under his command, they were a little on the unstable side and that something else would happen sooner or later. It was just how things worked at Rikkai Dai.

All he could think as his buchou led him into the living room of his home and sat down at the coffee table was that he was going to die a slow, painful, agonizing, and torturous death. Normally Jackal wasn't so melodramatic, but when facing the bluenette one on one, and the other teen happens to be a well-known sadist among the middle school tennis circuit, well it tended to make the most rational person behave or believe irrational things, "Yukimura, you have to know that it wasn't my fault."

"Of course it wasn't dear, dear Jackal. You were pushed into it and forced to act like a maniacal lunatic."

"Exactly!" Jackal thought that maybe his buchou actually understood him and what had happened, but his hopes were dashed in the next moment.

"So they held a gun to your head and forced you to yell at me and the others, and to disrupt practice."

"Yes! Uh wait… no!"

"And there is that word again… 'No'."

Jackal knew he was entering dangerous territory, but after what he just experienced, he was determined to hold his ground… definitely… somewhat… maybe; then again, it might be easier to change his name, move to a foreign country, and start over. However that being said… I mean thought, he decided he may as well turn a new leaf and would not be the lackey for the club any longer, or at least that is what he wanted to try. It was very hard when facing this one particular person alone though and he kind of wished that Marui was there with him… wait scratch that, the redheaded self-proclaimed tensai was the last person Jackal wanted standing next to him right now. Clearing his throat, he told himself swallow the fear and face the challenge head on, "Yukimura, a gun was not held to my head, but I will not apologize for standing my ground. I will apologize for disrupting practice, but that is it." He was really praying that the buchou would not be able to hear his knees knocking together or the slight (it wasn't slight at all) tremor in his voice.

Snickering, Yukimura turned a beaming smile onto his underling; one that clearly said, "You really think you can stand up to me again and not incur my wrath. You are truly a brave soul, albeit very, very stupid." The bluenette shook his head and muttered, "I see."

"What? I refuse to be the person that is expected to do everything those two want! I don't have to explain myself to you or how I feel!" Jackal's voice was getting weaker and he knew it. Although he wanted to stand up to Marui and Kirihara, it did not mean he needed to yell at his buchou, or take his frustrations out on him. Not only that, but he had a feeling that the more he talked, the bigger the hole he was digging.

"Interesting way of putting it."

"It's true. I am not going to wear a dress, be a chaperone, or go on a blind date for someone else. I am also not going to enter a bug eating contest so that those two can get tickets for some show they want to see. I will not eat a bug, babysit, give up my allowance, or do anything that could get me into trouble any longer. Every time I have to be in charge of them, I wind up paying the price when Akaya gets upset, or when Bunta gorges himself too much. No more!"

"I see. So you want them to take responsibility for their own lives and actions."

"Yes!" Was it possible? Was he really getting through to the bluenette? Did the other teen really understand him?

"So everyone should have to take responsibility for their own actions. Is that not correct?"

"Yes!"

"Excellent, I'm glad we agree!"

Just as he was about to say something else, Jackal stopped. There was a twinkle in those blue eyes and he knew that could only mean trouble. What did he agree to exactly? He decided to test the waters, "So you are on my side and agree that Akaya and Bunta went too far, right?"

"Oh I do believe they were taking advantage of you and stepped over the line; however, did you not just say everyone must take responsibility for what they did?"

"Ye-Yes?" Jackal knew it sounded more like a question than an answer, but he was suddenly overcome with the chills and he had a sense of foreboding inhabit his body. Something was not right… something was wrong… something was coming for him.

"Now, I am not saying that you shouldn't stick up for yourself with those two, but you need to treat them more gently. Poor Akaya is so scared of you right now. He really believes you were possessed by an akuma (demon), and doesn't want to be alone for any period of time. He and Marui will be cleaning the club room the remainder of the week instead of attending practice; however, they will need to practice at some point in time. You will be in charge of that... think of it as team bonding time. In addition, you will be helping the first years with ball clean up and the nets for the remainder of the week. You three will practice after the rest of the team is dismissed for the afternoon. If there are further problems with them, I should think you would talk about it before you explode on my tennis courts. I will let you off with a warning and light punishment this time, but next time… you might want to think about your final resting place."

Light punishment? Is that what Yukimura calls light punishment? Jackal is being forced to babysit the two people he doesn't want to babysit any longer. How is this light? "No!"

"Excuse me?"

"I cannot be in charge of them any longer. I will pick up the balls and help with the nets, but I will not babysit them any longer," Jackal defiantly declared as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Would you like to tell me why?" Yukimura might look calm outwardly, but on the inside he was sputtering and couldn't believe that his tennis player would defy him.

"No. I don't need to give you my reasons. I play tennis for you, and that is all."

"I can demote you from the regulars."

"You can, but it won't change my mind."

"Interesting… By the way, why are you scooting away?" the bluenette questioned a teasing tone to his voice. One thing he had to admit, he had to give the other teen credit, Jackal may be making a stupid decision, but he had guts. "I'll tell you what, if you can give me a reasonable and good explanation, I will reconsider everything… but it had better be an excellent excuse."

Looking around him, Jackal realized he had indeed moved as far away from Yukimura as he could and was now pressed up against the wall. When had he done that? However, knowing that he had retreated, he did not make a move to rejoin his buchou. He was trying to be brave, not suicidal. Swallowing hard, Jackal nodded. If it would get him out of nanny duty, he would attempt to explain his feelings on the matter, "I feel like I am a pretty sane person when compared to the others on our tennis team." He realized what he said and tried to correct his guffaw, "I mean excluding you, Sanada, and Yanagi of course. You are all as sane as I am." Mentally swiping at his brow for being able to expel that lie with a straight face, he continued, "However, it was putting me on babysitting duty to begin with that I believe they felt they could take advantage of me. Bunta was supposed to be helping me and instead he contributed to the problem. I can't do it any longer and after the list today, I refuse to help them like that. It would be enabling them."

Yukimura chuckled, "Has someone been watching some of those talk shows?" He studied and observed his defensive specialist for a moment before he said, "Alright, you will not have to be in charge of those two this week. In fact, I will give you a break, however, come to practice early tomorrow so that we can discuss your new duties." Standing up, the bluenette bowed and told the other tennis player, "I will see myself out. See you tomorrow." He left and the sounds of his giggling followed him to the door.

Jackal wasn't sure if today would be called a victory or this was just a means for Yukimura to plan a different method of attack. Either way, he needed to keep his guard up and make sure he had not in fact dug his own grave today. Then it dawned on him… Yukimura only said he didn't have to be in charge this week. Crap, did that mean he would be in charge again next week? If he had hair he would be pulling it out right now. Hmmm maybe he should grow out his hair so that he could pull it out. It might stop the effects of lunacy from taking over his body… then again, hair hadn't helped the other players. Maybe his best defense was no hair. It was definitely something to look into in the future, but right now, he needed to know… was he going to be tortured next week, or was he even going to be alive next week? What new duties? Jackal's head was spinning and he fell backwards onto his butt, landing on the hard floor. What exactly had he gotten himself into?