9.
A storm stole in during the night, and continued on through morning. Neji looked outside from his window. The wind was making the trees bend and creak. Neji walked away, coming to stop in the middle of his room. Should he even attempt to go and train today? He didn't feel like doing much anything on a day like today, but . . . then again, he had to train so he wouldn't lose to anyone, ever again. The lazy minuscule of his brain didn't really care, it was raining after all, but the other side, the determined half, was strongly urging him to go anyway. Neji walked across the rest of his room and put on his shoes, before walking out of his house. Neji walked under the coverage of the trees most of the way so the rain wouldn't soak him. When he arrived in their regular spot, Guy-sensei and Lee were already at it. TenTen was sitting on a nearby porch, the roof overhang sheltering her from the rain. She was polishing, cleaning, sharpening, adjusting her extensive selection of weapons. Neji walked over to her, sitting beside her.
"Where is she?" asked Neji, watching Lee and Guy.
TenTen shrugged, putting down a shuriken.
"I don't know, but Lee and Guy-sensei started nearly an hour ago."
"Why aren't you training with them?"
TenTen gave Neji an almost disgusted look.
"It's raining. Using my weapons would be useless right now. They'd get all wet."
Neji nodded.
"What about you? Why were you so late this morning?" queried TenTen, looking over to Neji.
"I was considering on whether to come or not."
TenTen gaped.
"Considering? That's not like you. Especially when it involves training," she said, peering at him.
Neji half-shrugged.
"I don't know. I didn't get much sleep last night," said Neji, thinking about his sudden want of tardiness.
TenTen withdrew her gaze and flicked her eyes to Lee and Guy.
"You're still having those nightmares?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," replied Neji softly. "They won't seem to go away. I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Nothing's wrong with you, Neji. You're probably just going through a growth spurt or something."
Neji doubted this, but didn't reveal it.
"Or maybe there is something wrong with you and you're going to die of a really scary disease."
Neji looked over at TenTen, not laughing. TenTen's smile faltered into a frown.
"Come on, Neji, cheer up. It was a joke. You aren't going to die, you're fine." She nudged him with her arm. "Cheer up," she said again.
Neji frowned slightly before catching TenTen's eye.
"Thank you anyway, TenTen. I guess I'm just not in the mood to be happy. It is raining, after all," said Neji, gesturing to the pouring rain. "I'm sorry."
TenTen attempted a smile.
"It's okay, Neji," she said and patted his hand, hesitating before withdrawing it a few seconds later.
Neji stood.
"I'll go and see if I can recover our other teammate," he said, starting to walk off.
TenTen nodded absentmindedly; she had already resumed cleaning her weaponry, her brow furrowed.
When Neji arrived at the Academy, he was cold and wet and even more irritated with Saya for making him troop all the way there. Neji walked down the hallway, and knocked on her door. He heard her footsteps move across to stand on the other side, but she didn't open the door. Byakugan!, thought Neji. It was her on the other side, so not an intruder. But what was she waiting for? Saya opened the door and saw that it was Neji.
"Hey, Neji," said Saya, sweeping some of her brown hair out of her eyes.
"In case you didn't notice, we have training today."
Saya immediately took the defensive.
"Well, in case you haven't noticed, it's raining. Practically storming, actually."
Neji inclined his head, a small smile appearing on his features.
"I did notice, actually."
Saya seemed to make up her mind about something before she left the door, leaving it open for him. When Neji didn't enter, Saya turned to look at him.
"You can come in, you know," she told him.
"I'd rather not," he replied coolly.
Saya's eyes narrowed.
"What, am I too lowly for the great Neji Hyuga to enter my room?" she asked fiercely.
Neji shook his head slightly.
"It's rude," answered Neji.
Saya looked at him.
"How is it rude if I invited you in?" asked Saya curiously.
"It's disrespectful to the head man of the house."
Saya stared at Neji.
"That would be a father, a husband, then?" she queried.
Neji nodded slightly. Saya's eyes found the floor before searching Neji's eyes.
"Well, I have no father, nor a husband. So, I guess you have no other excuse, Neji."
Neji pursed his lips before stepping over the threshold, though he went no further.
"You have no father?" he asked quietly.
Saya rummaged through some of her clothes as she shook her head shortly. Neji watched Saya continue rummaging before he spoke again.
"Are you going to come train or not?" inquired Neji once more; he was ready to go back to Lee and Guy-sensei and TenTen.
Saya looked up like she had forgotten he was there.
"I'll be along in about an hour." She paused before amending, "Maybe."
Neji stared at her for a minute before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
