A/N: Poor Jackal. Now that he isn't supposed to talk to Bunta… he wants to. What will he do? Go against Yukimura or torture his friend just a bit? Well this is Rikkai, so the answers can change at any moment without notice. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 7 – PTSD Can Affect Tennis Players Too

As Marui approached the tennis club house that dreaded Tuesday morning knowing that nothing more than a toothbrush and cleaning supplies awaited him, he cringed (come on, these were sweaty teenage boys… no matter what kind of spin you put on it, cleaning that clubhouse with a toothbrush and only Kirihara to keep you company is scary). However, the closer he got, he noticed someone out of the corner of his eye, and it wasn't the three demons who had handed down his sentence (yes, Yukimura was the one who dealt the judgment, but the other two did nothing and only nodded their acceptance, and really, he expected nothing less. Those three were as thick as thieves and… I digress). He knew it wasn't any of the club's leaders because the morning sunlight glinted off of a bald head, momentarily blinding the redhead and forcing him to cover his eyes. Blinking through the burn, he looked again and there standing on a tennis court putting up one of the nets was Jackal. The desire to run and help his friend, to tease him, to get him to buy him cream puffs was almost too much to bear, but alas he fought temptation because standing only about 50 feet from his friend were the three demons of Rikkai Dai… and they were definitely demons. Who else would make him clean a club room in the manner which they had dictated? "Sanada and Yanagi didn't say anything against the punishment. Just agree with everything Yukimura says why don't you? Yanagi probably did it to collect data. Plus their making me take Kirihara to the party and I have to watch him like a hawk because that kid likes to get into trouble and most of the time is the cause. And of course Yukimura…" Marui's rant was interrupted before he could continue his grumblings.

"Yes?" Yukimura asked standing just two feet behind the self-proclaimed tensai.

Screaming, Marui whipped around, his eyes large and fearful. Just how much had the bluenette heard? Actually any part of it could lead to horrific tortures that were beyond his imagination. He would rather deal with a torundorou heard around the world than to suffer through anything the sadist of Rikkai Dai could think up. The redhead had heard (ah gotta love the middle school rumor vine) that a girl had accidentally bumped into the buchou while he was painting outside and the canvas wound up face down on the grass ruining the entire thing. Now Yukimura did nothing at the time but smile and wave her off, but soon little things started to happen and eventually she found a human skull in her locker with a note, and this sent her over the edge right into a mental asylum. Rumor has it that the poor girl is still there and can only speak gibberish and has to be surrounded by white or black. Any other colors will send her into a panic and she will have to be sedated. Of course it was just a rumor, but it gave Marui an inkling into the mind of the bluenette and what he was capable of (if he were to believe the rumor, which he kind of did). Stammering out his answer, the tensai said, "N-N-Nothing buchou!" He wasn't stupid, he was going to show as much respect to the other teen as possible right now because he wanted to live. He had so much to live for, to experience, sweets to taste, the world to travel, new bubblegum flavors to discover, the… (gomen, got caught up again).

Yukimura's smile increase and it clearly said, "You say nothing, but I know something is going on and you will tell me or face a worse punishment than being shackled to Kirihara for a month." Instead of saying that (because his smile already did it), he inquired, "Really? Do you have a problem with your punishment?"

Back pedaling was the only way out of the situation and Marui's fight or flight instincts kicked into overdrive. Holding up his hands in front of him, he waved them like a mad man denying any issues with his new found responsibilities, "No, none at all! I completely agree with everything!" He might hate the situation, but he was smart enough not to tell the bluenette that; he was a tensai after all.

Giggling, the buchou nodded, "I thought you might feel like that. Now, where is Akaya?"

"I don't know. I figure he is on his way here."

"Oh Marui, part of your responsibility is to make sure Akaya arrives to morning practice on-time and that he stays out of trouble after school. Already slacking? Tsk, tsk," Yukimura gave his player a disappointed look just to taunt him. He knew full well that Kirihara got to school on his own, but that didn't stop him from wanting to torment the shorter player a little… just a little.

The volley specialist paled drastically, "What?! Jackal… he, I mean Akaya… he… I mean."

Yukimura started to walk off and called over his shoulder, "Well, hopefully he will show up soon. Your cleaning supplies are in the locker room. Please make sure to get everything… and I do mean everything."

Marui cursed that smile. The bluenette could look so innocent, friendly, jovial, etc. and underneath all that he was the devil! "Child of God my ass," he muttered under his breath making sure it was low enough no one would hear him, or if they did, they would not understand it and report back to Yukimura. Bunta wanted to live!

Entering the club room, he walked to his locker and found a squirt bottle and toothbrush sitting in front of it. He threw is bag in and slammed the door closed cursing his fate once again… but low so that no one could bust him. It was time to clean, but where was the little heathen he was supposed to be sharing the responsibility with. Marui gulped. What if Kirihara decided skip, leaving all the cleaning to him? If the little curly headed freak didn't show up… the redhead might actually lose his life. Where was Kirihara?!

It took another five minutes before Marui was finished with his ponderings and freaking himself out to the point that when Kirihara finally showed up (right on time I might add), Bunta had worked himself into such a tizzy that he attacked the younger student, "Oh thank God you made it! I thought pirates or something might have gotten to you! You have to promise me that you will show up on time this week. Don't make me worry!"

Now, Kirihara upon seeing all of this started to panic. Did the demon that had possessed Jackal the day before leap into another senpai today? "Mura-buchou!" He screamed, needing the protection the bluenette had to offer.

"DON'T YELL! He'll come and torture us!" Marui slapped his hand over the younger teen's mouth to get him to shut up and started looking around to make sure the coast was still clear. So far so good. Slowly, he lowered his hand believing that Kirihara understood the danger they would face.

The second year didn't understand at all. As soon as his mouth was free, he whipped out his tennis racket to use as a defense weapon and screamed that his life was in danger as he made his way towards the door. Every time the redhead reached for him or told him to be quiet, Kirihara would swing his racket in the hopes it would keep the evil at bay.

With one more step, the curly haired teen felt the door handle press against his back and he breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe as soon as he could open the door, but he couldn't. Turning the nob, it wouldn't' move… he was locked inside the clubroom with a psycho! This realization caused him to panic more and start to scream even louder, right before he was jolted forward and flew across the room landing face first, sprawled out on the floor.

The three demons heard the screaming and all three ran to the locker room. Sanada grabbed the handle to turn it, but it felt like it was being held by some force on the other side of the door, but whatever it was could not possibly any match for Sanada Genichiro. He was stronger and decided to prove it. Twisting the nob with all his might, it moved and he flung the door open only to see the second year ace flying forward with great momentum. He wanted to yell, but was stopped before he could deliver a torundorou to the redhead standing there quaking in his tennis shoes.

Walking into the clubroom, Yukimura told Sanada, "Hold on Genichiro. Let's hear what Bunta has to say." His smile though said that someone needed to die.

"I didn't do it. I just told Akaya not to be late so that I wouldn't have to worry about him. He started screaming like a madman. I didn't do it!" Marui quickly explained. He didn't want to die!

The bluenette's grin widened and he chortled, "I see." He turned to the teen lying on the ground, "Akaya, what happened?"

Kirihara, hearing the voice of his beloved buchou, quickly got off the ground and cried, "He's possessed. The ghost that took over Jackal-senpai has taken over Marui-senpai!"

"EH?!" The tensai yelled. What was the kid talking about?

"It's true. He said he didn't want to worry and then covered my mouth so I wouldn't scream. He scared me buchou!" Kirihara wailed.

Glaring, Marui bellowed, "I am not possessed, Bakaya!"

"How do you know? You never say stuff like that or grab me!" Kirihara sniffled.

If looks could kill… a certain second year would be at least writhing in pain. The redhead defended himself, "I am not possessed! You are my responsibility right now and I am supposed to be sure you are alright. I don't have Jackal here to help me this time, so deal with it!" Marui really felt like he was on the verge of going crazy (I know, if you ask Jackal, he would say his doubles partner was already there).

Kirihara peered around the room and made a decision. If he could gather the sympathy from the three demons, he might be able to get out of cleaning duty and back to playing tennis that very morning. Letting the tears flow, he balled, "I'm scared Mura-buchou."

Yukimura walked up to his tennis ace and patted him on the back, rubbing it in circles, "There, there. I know, but he was only worried for you. It is a good thing to have you senpai worry about you. Don't you think? Now, why don't you two get started cleaning? In fact, stay on two different sides of the room if you are that scared of him."

Jaw dropping to the floor, Kirihara deadpanned. It hadn't worked. He was sure it would work and he would be back to playing tennis. Why did it not work?

Leaning in closely, the bluenette whispered, "This is for your own good. The sooner you face your fears, the easier it is to get over them." He left his ace and tensai standing in the middle of the room as he left with Yanagi and Sanada, laughter following in his wake.

Outside the clubroom, other players had gather and everyone asked what happened. Why was the youngest regular screaming like a banshee?

The buchou snickered, "Just a case of PTSD." And thus the morning began at Rikkai Dai.