A/N: You almost feel sorry for Kirihara… almost, but apparently it is just PTSD. I guess seeing a ranting Jackal who is denying his friends could make anyone suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 8 – A Chance, A Wager

"PTSD?" Jackal deadpanned. Shaking his head, he inquired, "What trauma did he suffer?" The defensive specialist knew he should have kept his mouth shut and carried on with his duties, but he couldn't help the words that just seemed to fly out of his mouth, and when his blue haired buchou turned a smiling face in his direction, he knew he should run far far away, but he stupidly held his ground. Why you may ask… well because he was curious how a second year in middle school could be fine one day and suffering from PTSD the next. He really should have kept his mouth shut.

Hearing the question Jackal posed, Yukimura turned to look at the other teen and tilted his head to study the bald player for a moment before answering, "Apparently he was mentally and emotionally scarred when he believed one of his beloved senpai was possessed by a demon."

Jackal sweat dropped and knew he was the person in question, and it should have ended there, but after his explosion yesterday, brain cells were apparently killed because he still felt a little braver than he should. "He is probably only doing that so you will let him play tennis instead of cleaning," came the muttered reply. He must want to die early in life.

A flash appeared in Yukimura's eyes momentarily, but soon the bluenette chuckled, "Do you really believe that? I suppose it could be that or the fact that someone went postal yesterday during practice." The smile on his face said, "One more word and you will die, I will torture you with techniques never seen on the earth before. Remember I can change my mind about being lenient."

A collective gulp could be heard from the surrounding players and everyone took three large steps back. They wanted to give their captain a big enough space to "work" if he needed to. Plus, they were a little afraid that Jackal's idiocy… umm I mean bravery… might be contagious.

Calling out to his teammate, Niou whispered in a loud voice, "You might want to shut up now, puri!"

Yagyuu pushed up his glasses, "Jackal, let's go to practice." Being the gentleman he was, he decided it was best to help a fellow sportsman, teammate, and dare we say… friend.

Glancing over his shoulder, he could see that everyone had stepped a good twenty feet away from him with those three giant steps back and it made him do a double take. Jackal shook his head and looked towards Yukimura, "You're right. I'm sure I did scare him a little yesterday." In fact, the half-Brazilian knew that he had scared the second year ace the day before… hell he had probably scared the majority of the team, but that did not mean that Kirihara was not trying to get out of doing chores. If anyone knew the younger teen best, Jackal would swear it was him since he babysat (as Yanagi would put it) 98.7% of the time. However, when one is adrift in the sea alone (as he was since everyone had abandoned him), it was best to surrender for the time being… At least if Jackal wanted to live to fight another day.

Nodding, Yukimura said, "Yes, you did. Now, let's stop standing around doing nothing. We are Rikkai Dai and we have a tournament to get ready for. If you would rather stand around gossiping, I have other tasks that can keep you busy."

"15 laps, now!" Sanada yelled and got a small sense of satisfaction when all of the players around them scrambled and hightailed it away. Yes, no other school had the control that Rikkai Dai had over their players, no other school could compete with them, and all other school wish they were the famed Rikkai Dai. And let's face it, none of the tennis players wanted to get a torundorou first thing in the morning. They may not be able to get through the school day and back to afternoon tennis practice if they had. There was one rumor that a torundorou was given to a student who got in Sanada's way when the fukubuchou was on his way to class and the student was struck stupid for a week. He couldn't remember anything about his life and would wander the halls asking the passing students where to go (yes, you gotta love the rumor vine. Now, I'm not saying it isn't true, but you never know. Most rumors have a thread of truth to them).

Even Jackal was smart enough to get away and begin his 25 laps (as per his punishment). As he ran, he thought of how Bunta would struggle completing 25 laps without his coping techniques and even then it might be a stretch for the boy, but Jackal had no problems completing that and more… not with his nickname of the man with four lungs. He had agility and endurance, and most people can't keep up with him. It is one of the reasons he pairs so well with Marui. They complimented each other weaknesses so well. Shaking his head, he forced thoughts of his partner out of his mind and continued on his laps.

It took less than 24 hours before Jackal realized that he couldn't go the rest of the week without talking to the redhead. Thus Wednesday afternoon after he changed and got ready to head home, he hung around the school out of sight from the three demons of the tennis team. He was ready to talk to Marui, not to face those monsters.

Sighing, Marui thought about his partner yet again as he finished up his cleaning for the day. Cleaning the whole clubhouse with nothing but a toothbrush and Kirihara to keep him company should be considered cruel and unusual torture. The younger teen had been leery of him on Tuesday, but had warmed up to him again on Wednesday and begged the redhead to take him out for ramen. Reluctantly Bunta had agreed… very reluctantly. He had been hoping that he could ditch the second year and swing by Jackal's, but alas it was not meant to be.

Jackal saw Marui and Kirihara leaving the school and realized that he would not be able to do anything while the ace was around. It wasn't that he didn't trust…. Okay, he did not trust, would not trust, and could not put any faith in Kirihara that he would not tell Yukimura, Yanagi, or Sanada about the fact that he and Marui talked. No, the ace would snitch and tell those three everything that was discussed. Trying to talk to the redhead with the younger teen around was the same as committing suicide. Instead, his best option was a text message. Pulling out his phone, he sent the message, "Phones could be tapped, come over tonight after you ditch the kid." Did Jackal really believe the phones could be tapped? Well you never know with the people he went to school with and it was always better to err on the side of caution. They went to school at Rikkai Dai, which was full of psychos.

Hearing the chime on his phone, Marui pulled out his phone and looked at the message… and promptly laughed. Unfortunately his phone was snatched before he could respond or put it back in his pocket. He had to act quickly and before Kirihara could read the message, he knocked it out of the ace's hands and it crashed to the ground breaking in pieces. Shaking his head, he lamented his loss of technology. That phone had only been a week only, having been replaced because of a prank gone wrong by Niou (but that's another story); and now it would have to be replaced again… that is if his parents would be willing.

"What did you do that for?" Kirihara whined.

"Don't you know it's rude to take someone else's phone without permission? That's just rude!" Marui retorted frustrated. Now he was getting a small taste of what Jackal went through and he felt sorry for the bald man… no wonder he never had hair. If he let it grow out, he would just pull it out. Easier to keep it shaved.

Kirihara frowned, "I just wanted to see what you were reading."

"It was none of your business!"

"Who said?"

"Did you get a message on your phone?"

"No."

"Then that means it was for my eyes only and none of your business!"

The sound of two people behind them stopped their argument and they turned around to find Yagyuu and Niou. Snorting with laughter, the silver haired teen spoke first, "No wonder you two need Jackal around. He acts as your mommy. Puri."

Yagyuu adjusted his glasses and stated, "It would appear that Jackal-kun does play the mediator."

"Nu-uh, we can get along just fine without him. Right Marui-senpai?" Kirihara challenged.

Sweat dropping, the red wasn't as sure as the younger teen, "Well, I…"

"Right senpai?" The ace pressed.

Marui sighed and finally nodded, "Right." The one word held no conviction and he knew Niou would latch onto that like a shark with blood (much worse than a dog with a bone).

And the tensai was right, because one minute later Niou barked with laughter and a challenge of his own, "Then I bet that you cannot go a whole week without arguing even once. If you lose, you have to help me with my new prank."

"You're on!" Kirihara declared, "What do we get if we win?"

"We'll take you out to the arcade for the afternoon," Niou answered.

Eyes growing large, Kirihara quickly accepted, "Yes!"

Marui on the other hand didn't think it could be done, "I don't know…"

"You have to!" The second year whined.

"I…" the red head started and realized he had been painted into a corner and could not get out of the bet. He was so dead, "Fine." Something told him that he would rather face Yukimura than try to win this bet. One whole week? He wouldn't survive 48 hours.

"Done. Good luck," Niou laughed as he walked off with the other half of the platinum pair. He knew it would take a miracle of biblical proportions for the other two teens to win this bet and he was sure his partner agreed with him.

Kirihara started pulling Marui towards the ramen shop, "We got this!"

If only the tensai felt the same and could agree. Marui wondered what the prank was and what his role would be. He had already decided what his fate would be and started to mentally prepare himself. There was no way he could stop himself from arguing with the younger teen… Kirihara was an impossible devil. How had Jackal lasted as long as he had?