A quick update. Haha. It's just that, this idea came so quickly that I wanted to write this as soon as possible. R/R please. :)

Chapter Nine.

Further Confusion.

The sun must've set a bit too early today. With my messenger bag hanging on my shoulder, I started walking over towards our clan's district. It's a bit strange isn't it? Most people would think that this is the twenty-first century and clans and clan districts are a thing of the past.

Our family, on the other hand, do not believe the same thing. Regarded as a prominent name, the Hyuga clan maintained its close bonds. The elders say that this very land where we currently reside in is the same land where our ancestors established themselves. And in contrast to what others expect of a clan district, the Hyuga district we have today is far from the Chinese style homes, with matching landscaping. Several bungalow-style houses were lined up upon the entry. The road, whose entry was managed by a huge steel gate, had houses on both sides. Lanterns with the clan's crest hung around the area. It was like Chinatown here. I never knew how they kept the atmosphere like that.

It was quiet, as always. I kept my eyes straight on as I made my way through. After passing several houses, I finally arrived.

A white painted mansion with the clan's crest, stood at the end of the road. The fountain upfront was the only thing you'd hear in the silence. This is where the main family lives, though times have changed. Grandfather, being the head of the family, insisted that both his sons to live here alongside each other, considering that they're twins. My father is the younger one of his sons.

I grabbed onto the knob of the mahogany colored door and entered. Father and Uncle were sitting cross-legged on the tatami mat laid down on the Chinese-styled living room, both facing a low table, playing a game of shogi.

"Father, I'm home.", I said. Both he and uncle turned to me.

"You seem to be a little late today.", he said and then returned his attention to the game in hand. Uncle did the same.

"Basketball practice.", I muttered and then made my way towards the kitchen, which was modernly designed in contrast to the living room.

"You know, basketball isn't really going to help you when the time comes and you take over the corporation.", this time, it was uncle who spoke up. The similarities between the tone of their voices was almost undetectable.

"Now, Nii-san, shouldn't your Hinata be the heiress?", father asked as he advanced one piece.

"Hizashi, I don't think my Hinata can't take that kind of pressure. I'm certain that having Neji take over would be best.", uncle returned evenly as he moved a piece of his own as well.

Not wanting to hear any of this argument anymore, I, instead proceeded upstairs.

The moment I entered my room, I crashed on to my bed. Nothing pisses me off more than that talk about taking over the company and such. Who the hell gave them the idea that I wanted to do that?

I sat up and took off my shoes, then I quickly changed into a clean shirt and pants. I was just about to lie down again when I heard a familiar tune.

I reached into my bag, which I threw carelessly onto the floor, for my cellphone.

"The game's been moved. Tenten just texted. It's on Thursday, instead of Friday.", it was Naruto. That's weird, games rarely get moved.

Since I'm not really into texting, I pressed the green button on the left side of my phone and held the device to my ear.

After a few rings, Naruto finally picked up. "Ne, Captain, what's up?", he said in a casual tone.

"Game's moved?", I asked him.

"Well, yeah. Tsunade gave Tenten the memo on the way to God-knows-where she was going to.", he answered in the same tone.

"Anything else?"

"Uhm, I don't know anything much about it. She just told me that the game was moved. Why don't you talk to her?", and then I heard some kind of noise in the background. "Uhm, Captain, I gotta go, my ramen's gonna boil over. I'll just send you her number, or I'll ask her to call you. Bye.", he hung up.

Minutes later, I received a file containing Tenten's number. So.. should I call her then?

Well, it's not necessary since I'm pretty sure she'll be around tomorrow. I'll be able to ask her then. My hand clutched my phone tighter, my eyes were focused on the screen. Why do I have this urge to go on and call her?

Neji, be reasonable. You'll talk to her tomorrow. It is not necessary. Thursday's still two days away. There's lots of time.

No, that's precisely the point. We only have two days left. I need all the info I could get right now. We need to win this. This is first game of the playoffs, afterall.

I dropped my phone, and stared at the ceiling. Why am I over thinking this? What has gotten into me?

I know myself perfectly well, and I am certain that I'm not the kind of person to make a fuss over this simple thing.

I will talk to her tomorrow about this. The team is stronger this year. Surely, even with just two days to prepare, we'll be able to crush our opponents. That's it then. There's no need for unnecessary contact with that girl. No doubt, she'll just make me feel uncomfortable then.

I sat up and placed my phone on my study table just beside my bed. Two gentle knocks broke the silence of the room. "Neji-sama, dinner's ready.", a voice called out.

"I'll be right there.", I answered and then proceeded downstairs. Time to take my mind away from all this.

"So, Neji, how the basketball team coming along?", it was mother who asked while passing me a plate of grilled meat.

"Game's on Thursday.", I answered. It's not like Uncle and Father would be interested.

"Your grades just came in the mail by the way, son.", father said as he placed a generous amount of stir fried vegetables on his plate. "Excellent as always."

I could see Uncle smirk by Father's side. "That's why you'd make an excellent heir, Neji.", this was when Grandfather's face twisted into a frown.

"Hiashi, why don't you ask about Hinata's studies? I heard she's doing great in school.", Grandfather said in a gentle voice while gesturing to my timid cousin to his left. Hinata wasn't really the performing type. As far as I knew, she's a hardworkers, though she tends to keep to herself.

"Father, I'm sure that even you are aware that Neji is far more suitable.", Uncle insisted. This discussion isn't going anywhere. It would be best if I remained silent.

Right after dinner, I headed over to my room to do homework. I sat down and made myself comfortable. I took my books from my bag and started working on those physics exercises Miss Anko gave out.

The first three problems were relatively easy. Just when I was about to started solving the fourth problem, I heard another familiar tune. It was again, my cellphone. It was on the same place I left it a while ago. But this time, it wasn't a text message. Someone was calling. I reached over and looked at the caller's name.

Tenten.

For some unknown reason, I found myself wondering why my heart was beating so fast. What on earth was happening?

Maybe she's going to talk to me about the game.. I'd better answer it then..

With a slight hesitation which came from nowhere, I pressed the green button and spoke.

"Hello?"

"U-uhm, Captain, this is Tenten.", I can hear her voice shake slightly. Was she nervous? "Naruto told me to call you about the rescheduling. Tsunade passed on the memo on my way out of the campus."

I kept silent, hoping for her to go on.

"The game's going to be on Thursday. Next week.", she went on.

I waited for her to say something more.

"S-so, that's it. Bye.", and she hung up.

What just happened?

She was.. she wasn't speaking in the flirty tone she used this afternoon.. She was.. normal..

Why am I over thinking again? Maybe she was just playing a trick on me a while ago.. Come to think of it, it's quite logical. Whether she found out about my plan of making her quit or not, it doesn't matter anymore. Since I'm going all out with flirting with her, maybe she's just playing along. And in the end, she's not that complicated, after all.

So then.. if I stopped flirting with her, she'd have no reason to talk to me in that very confusing tone of her's.. right? I just need to think of something that doesn't involve an activity that makes me even more distracted as I am now, something that doesn't involve contact with her.

Yes.. so that's it. I'll have to abort this plan of mine. I'll just have to make her quit with the old-fashioned hard labor then. I'll ignore her for the next week, and I'll pass on my commands to Naruto. Yes. That'll work.

I placed my phone back on my desk and proceeded with the problem. Scribbling furiously, I wrote down numbers and drew illustrations to make solving easier.

As if on impulse, my eyes landed on my phone again.

Why do I have this urge to call her, when there was absolutely no reason to do so?

Wait. She said Thursday, but not this week, next week.. she didn't mention the time though. Maybe she won't be around tomorrow too, so I guess it would be best to ask her now.

I opened my call log and called her. After a few rings, she finally picked up.

"H-hello?", she asked.

"What time is the game by the way?", my attempt to keep my voice steady was successful.

"Three in the afternoon, against Ami High.", she answered, though her voice wasn't as shaky as before.

"..", I kept silent. Usually, this was the best thing to do when I have nothing else to say.

"Is that all, Captain?", she asked again, with her usual tone now.

Yes, that is all. That is all I wanted to ask right? I needed to end this call now or I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about these unimportant things I shouldn't be thinking about. I need to get other stuff done. I need to focus on the game. I need to stay away from her. Prolonging this call is unnecessary.

Or at least that's what my mind was telling me. I just can't figure out why I said something else.

"Yes.. So, Tenten, what's up?"