2020: I'm back! Chapter two of SH~A will be ShikaTema! Please love it!
Disclaimer: 2020 doesn't own Naruto. She does, however, own a dictionary that appears to be on steroids.
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Synthetic Heartbeats~Always
Second Love: ShikaTema. The Dark Horse Of Love Races Ahead!
"Why am I here?" Temari muttered to herself. The endless fields of the Konoha Horse Farm lay before her, and all manner of horses dotted the landscape. Paliminos, Arabians, Morgans, Thoroughbreds, and more raced through the green pastures, and in and out of the red farmhouses.
"Because I invited you to come to my grandparents' farm, silly!" Ino smiled happily and whacked Temari on the back.
Ino had invited her teammates, Chi, Hai, and Temari and her brothers to the farm today for free horseback riding lessons, courtesy of Grandma Sooseji Yamanaka, Ino's dad's mother. Shikamaru and Chouji only came because they knew Ino would nag them forever unless they did, and Hai got super-excited about the horses and dragged Chi along. Temari only came because Ino was her best friend, so she forced her brothers to come along also. When Kankuro protested that horses were for girls, Ino simply said "You'd be perfect, then," and that ended any other arguments.
"Aww! Neechama, look at the horses!" Hai was getting more and more excited- maybe she had ridden horses before she lost her memory.
Chi whacked her upside the head. "Wow, genius, what else would be on the Konoha Horse Farm? Carrots?" But despite her sarcasm, she was getting excited too- she loved horses.
"What a drag..." Shikamaru sighed and leaned against a tree.
Temari glared in his direction. "Did you have to bring along the lazy cloud-boy?" she asked Ino. Shikamaru could make doing just about anything feel stupid, and she didn't want to feel like that the first time she rode a horse. Ino just shrugged, oblivious to her friend's animosity to her teammate.
"Well, hello there! May I help you with anything? I'm Sooseji Yamanaka, co-owner of this farm..." A plump, happy-looking old lady with short white hair and blue eyes appeared next to them.
"Grammie! Grammie, it's me, Ino!" Ino cried, flinging her arms around her grandmother.
"Oh? Is that really you, Inee-meeny? My, how you've grown!" Sooseji patted Ino's head. "And who are all your friends?"
"Grammie, this is my best friend, Temari Sabaku, and her brothers, Kankuro and Gaara. And you've met my teammates, Shikamaru and Chouji..."
The old woman chuckled. "Oh, yes, their fathers and your own were thick as theives! You couldn't think about Inoichi, Shikaku, or Chouza without thinking of the other two!"
"And this is Chitomo Tsubasa- she's, uh, new in the village, and her sister, Haipa Ok- hey, where's Hai?"
Chi tossed her head from side to side. "What? She was just next to me... THERE!" Across a field, slightly far away, Hai was approaching a large chestnut-brown horse. Smiling, she reached out to pet its nose.
"Oh no!" Sooseji took off running towards her. "That's one of our more misbehaved horses! There's no telling what she'll do to her!" Unfortunately, the years had not been kind to the old woman's speed. Ino, Temari, and Chi quickly overtook her, but before any of them could reach the pigtailed girl, she had climbed onto the horse's back.
"Yay! Look at me, Neechama! I'm a cowgirl!" Urging the horse into a gentle trot, Hai smiled at the dumbfounded expression on Sooseji's face.
"No one could ever ride Tobidasu, especially not bareback!" She warily glared at her granddaughter. "You didn't tell me you were bringing a professional!"
"Why is she called Tobida-" Chi's question was answered as said horse reared back and leaped high and far, almost as if she had wings. Tobidasu means to take wing, and that horse jumps as if she has them...
"That... was... AWESOME!" Hai smiled wide. "C'mon, Tobidasu! Let's do it again!" She and the horse rode off.
Sooseji shook her head. "Well, she certaintly doesn't need lessons... Nesuru!" She called to a man riding a horse a little ways away. "Nesuru, that girl is riding Tobidasu- please keep an eye on her!"
"Yes, Mrs. Yamanaka!" Nesuru and his yellow horse galloped after Hai and her wild mare.
The old woman turned back to Ino, Temari, and Chi. "Well, let's get you and the boys saddled up!" Waving to Kankuro, Gaara, Shikamaru, and Chouji, they followed her into the nearest farm. "The first step," she said as they all gathered around her, "Is to find the proper horse. Take a bit to look around and find a horse that you can really connect with- it's a very important process!"
Shikamaru, avoiding all physical motion as he possibly could, walked over to the nearest stall. "This one," he muttered.
"That's Koosan," Sooseji told him. "She's very lazy- are you sure that's the one you want to ride?" Temari and Ino tried their hardest not to laugh.
"She's you, if you were a horse, Shik," Ino chuckled. "She's too lazy to even eat, some days." She walked down to the other end of the stable. "Oh, Grammie, I want to ride Orhime!"
"Of course, dear. She's in here," her grandmother told her, leading a small white horse out of a stall. "Orhime was the first horse Inee-meeny ever rode," she added for the benefit of the others.
"Aww! This one is so pretty!" Chi was petting the nose of a light brown horse with a star on his nose and white stocking legs.
"That's Hayasa, one of our racehorses."
"I'd like to ride him, please!"
Chouji glanced around worridly at the huge animals. "Whice horse is gentler?" He asked.
Sooseji led a gold mare out of a stall. "This is Sharin, one of our carthorses. I've never know her to startle or rear."
Kankuro was drawn to a brown-and-white sploched horse named Daden. "He's very energetic," the horse's owner told him.
Quietly, Gaara sat down on a fence- he wasn't going to ride.
Temari wandered up and down the aisle, looking for a horse to ride. None of them seemed to catch her eye... until she saw a large black horse standing in the shadow of his stall. "Mrs. Yamanaka," she called, "I think I would like to ride this one!"
Sooseji came over and led the horse out of his stall. "This is Ranboo- he was rescued from a horse farm in quite deplorable conditions. I don't know how well he rides.." But Temari's heart was set on riding Ranboo. Sooseji showed them how to saddle up, then had them lead their horses outside to a fenced-in riding ring. After mounting, she began showing them all the basics- that is, until she discovered that Chi already knew how to ride.
"I didn't know, either," she said almost apologetically. "Maybe it's just natural?" Chi and Hayasa were allowed to ride around the pastures on their own.
Ino, of course, already knew how to ride- Sooseji had taught her when she was very little, on the same horse she rode today, Orhime. "Grammie, why don't we each teach them? I'll stay here and teach Temari and Shikamaru, and you take Chouji and Kankuro to another riding ring. That way, with smaller classes, they'll learn better!"
"That's a wonderful idea, dear! Kankuro, Chouji, please follow me..." the old woman and the two boys left to find another riding ring.
"Alright!" Ino cried, causing Ranboo to startle a little. "Starting today, I'm your new riding instructor, and you may refer to me as General Commander Princess Sexy Dynamite Ino!"
"How about I call you Commander Dumbass and then you teach us something about horse riding?"
Ino glared at her best friend. "Shut up, Temari!"
Shikamaru sighed.
Ino then taught them some more basics and had them practice the basics. Soon, it was afternoon, and time to eat. After unsaddleing their horses, she led them up to a large house on a hill overlooking the endless green pastures- Sooseji's house. Her grandmother was already there with Kankuro, Gaara and Chouji. "Nesuru is locating your other two friends, the natural-born horsewomen," Sooseji said.
No sooner had the words been said before Chi and Hai walked in the door. "This is fun! You should've taken us out here ages ago, Ino!" Hai laughed.
"Lunch is served! Salad and burgers!" A white-haired old man carried a platter out to the back porch. Everyone followed.
"Grampa! Everyone, this is my grandfather, Beekon. Grampa, this is Chouji, Shikamaru, Temari, Chi, Hai, Gaara, and Kankuro."
"Hey, kids! Thanks for coming down to the farm today. Soo loves company." He leaned over the side of the porch and yelled, "Nesuru! Get the others and come have lunch with us!"
"Yes sir, Mr. Yamanaka!" Soon they were joined by three good-looking guys and one pretty girl. Pretty wierd, that is.
"Everyone, these are the hired hands. Nesuru Tonbo, Kitto Ooame, Jison Dokira, and Marion Nonbiri." Ino intoduced them to all her guests.
Nesuru was a cute guy, with golden brown hair and green eyes. Kitto was also attractive- he had shining blue eyes and black hair. The last guy was also a heart throb- Jison had brown eyes and brown hair. Marion, the only girl, had... one green eye and one blue eye. Her strangeness was further enunciated by her rainbow-colored hair and colorful clothes. The four took seats wherever there ws space- the seating arrangement ultimately ended up with Kitto between Chi and Hai, Jison next to Ino (to her delight), Marion next to Kankuro, and Nesuru next to Temari. He smiled and offered her a bottle of water, which she graciously took. No one noticed Shikamaru glare him.
"Is it just me, or do all the horses seem... on edge?" Chouji asked.
"They say horses can sense the emotions of the rider, Chouji," Shikamaru said. "If you're nervous, they'll be, too. If you're not-" he was cut off as something jerked his head backwards over the porch rail. It was a bold horse, biting on his ponytail. This caused Temari to laugh.
"I think the pont lost its tail, and wants yours instead!" She said, laughing.
"What a drag..."
"Go on, scat!" Beekon chided the horse, who released its captive and ran off.
"I don't know about you all, but I'm having so much fun riding Tobidasu!" Hai said before stuffing her mouth full of burger. After swallowing, she said, "I think we cleared ten feet easy on out last jump! Vertically, that is!"
"She was at the hurdle range," Nesuru explained.
"Hey, Hai, you're not the only one with talent- Chi's a natural too!" Ino called.
"She just absorbed all my skillz through osmosis."
"That, sister dear, would be dependant on you actually having skillz."
"HEY! I rode a wild horse bareback! What about you?!"
"I saddled and rode a racehorse." After Chi told her that, Hai didn't say another word for the rest of the meal.
"Jison, why don't you join us for the lessons?" Ino asked, with a gleam in her eye. Jison shook his head.
"Sorry, Ms. Ino, but I need to go check the fence on the far south side of the pasture."
"I'll go with you, Ms. Ino," Nesuru said, winking at Temari.
"Oooh! Nesuru, that'd be wonderful!"
"And I'll join Mrs. Yamanaka's group, then!" Marion seemed excited. "I don't have anything else to do."
Sooseji smiled. "Oh, Marion, that would be nice. Having another experienced rider's assistance would help so much!" The rainbow-haired girl's two-colored eyes sparkled.
Soon, everyone had finished and it was time to get back to riding. Ino, Temari, Shikamaru, and the newest addition, Nesuru, all went back to their riding ring. After saddling the horses back up, they began their lessons once again.
Bringing Ranboo to a trot in the ring, Temari was surprised to see Nesuru and his yellow horse (whose name was Asahi) ride up next to her. "I'm surprised that Ranboo behaves so well- we havn't ridden him yet, as I imagine Mrs. Yamanaka told you," he remarked.
Temari giggled. "Well, maybe I'm just a good horsewoman." The two laughed, unaware of Shikamaru's dark glare behind them... but Ino noticed.
"What's the matter, Shik? You look a little miffed," she said cheerfully, in a voice only Shikamaru could hear.
"It's nothing, Ino. Go away."
"Are you jealous of Nesuru?"
"I'm more jealous of this horse than I'll ever be of him," he said as he patted Koosan.
Suddenly, Asahi reared back a little bit. Normally this would have posed no major threat- Koosan and Orhime both backed up before they or their riders could come to harm, and Asahi settled back down almost instantly. However, normally, there wouldn't have been a previously abused, super-powerful, jumpy horse riding next to her. Ranboo bolted away, clearing the fence with feet to spare, and dashing through the pasture, towards the south.
Ino shreiked. "THE SOUTH! JISON NEEDED TO FIX THE SOUTH FENCE!"
Panicked, Nesuru began urging his horse towards the gate. "Ms. Ino! Open the gate! We'll get her!" But Ino never did open the gate- she was too busy watching as her teammate urged the laziest horse on the farm into a jump that cleared the riding ring fence, and gallop full-speed in the direction of Temari and her runaway horse.
Shikamaru raced southwards, his horse spurred on by some invisible force. Despite never being taught how to ride a horse running this fast, he reacted naturally, urging Koosan on faster and faster. Soon, Temari and Ranboo were in sight, closing in on the south fence. Up and away... they sailed into the forest beyond. Gritting his teeth, Shikamaru drove Koosan straight at the fence until she, too, jumped it. Through the forest they raced, neither stopping.
Temari held onto the reins for dear life. Whispering, tugging his mane, she tried anything to slow Ranboo down, but to no avail. Just when she thought he would keep running forever, he stopped- but she didn't. Temari pitched forward, crashing through the underbrush, until she was stopped by a tree. Sinking to the ground, she moaned in pain.
Shikamaru and Koosan raced thorough the forest, until he saw Ranboo. His happiness was short-lived, tough, when he saw that the horse was alone. Jumping off of the exhausted horse, he ran deeper into the woods on foot, yelling Temari's name.
Temari lay on the ground, in much pain. She could feel her concious beginning to slip away...
"TEMARI!"
What was that? Someone was calling her name... or was she just imagining it?
"TEMARI!"
That was... Shikamaru's voice? Now she knew she was imagining things. Shikamaru would never some looking for her... would he? In vain hope, she moaned as loud as she could. "Help..."
Shikamaru ran to the sound of Temari's voice. There she was! She was sprawled out in an uncomfortable-looking position. Didn't know knees could twist like that... he thought, but another thought sickened him. That wasn't her knee. "Temari!" He yelled, running towards her battered body.
"Shika... maru...?" Even her voice seemed to be in pain.
Shikamaru grabbed her hand and ran his fingers through her bloodied hair- she must have cut her head. "Temari, it's OK, I'm here now, the others are on their way..." In truth, he didn't really know if the others were coming, but he had to keep her hopes up. "Temari, Temari, it's going to be OK, you're going to be OK..."
"Shika... maru...?" she repeated in her pained voice. "That... you...?"
"Yes, yes, it's me, Temari...."
"Why...?"
"Because I love you!" Shikamaru was taken aback. Did I really just say that?!
Even in her condition, he could see the surprise spread through Temari's bruised, bloodied features."Shika... maru... I..." her voice trailed off. "Come... closer..."
Bending so that his face alomst touched hers, Shikamaru was once again taken aback when Temari's lips pressed against his. "I... love you too..." she whispered.
"This way! Their horses are here!" The sound of hoofbeats reverberated around the forest. Shikamaru gave a shaky smile.
"See, Temari? I told you they were on their way..."
When Temari regained conciousness, she was in an unfamiliar room that smelled of antisceptic and medicine. "Wha'?" She sat up. She was in the hospital? How did she get here? The last thing she remembered was... was...
"Look who finally woke up. It's been such a drag, watching you sleep." Temari whirled around. Shikamaru sat on a chair leaned against the wall. That's right, the last thing she remembered was Shikamaru... telling her he loved her... She opened her mouth to speak, but he pressed a finger to her lips for silence. "We can talk about it when you get out."
"Temari?" Hai stood in the doorway. "Temari! Hey! Hey, guys, she's awake! Sakura was right!" Hai, Chi, Chouji, Ino, and Kankuro, holding Marion's hand, ran into the room. Temari looked at her brother.
"Did I miss something?" she asked, looking pointedly at their clasped hands.
Marion laughed. "Well, I got a little tired of the density of the male population, so I went Sadie Hawkins style, and, well... here we are!"
"Wait a minute! How long have I been out?!"
"Well, the horse farm was last week, and when we brought you in, Sakura took a look and said, 'Come back in a week', so we did, and she was right!" Hai said excitedly.
Temari jumped out of bed. "WHAT?! I've been unconcious for a whole freaking WEEK?!"
The pigtailed girl twiddled her thumbs. "Well... not unconcious, exactly... See, they kept you on some pretty heavy-duty drugs to keep you from feeling any pain, and, well, people under the influence tend to say the strangest things..."
Temari's eyebrow twitched. "Hai, what did I say?"
It was Shikamaru who answered. Wrapping his arms around Temari's waist and kissing her cheek, he said, "Oh, you just enlightened everyone on how much you loooove me." Everyone laughed at the shocked expression on her face. Shikamaru laughed too. "It's OK, Temari, because, well, I love you too."
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2020: Ha. Finally finished. Except, I don't like how I ended it... but Neechama said it was fine, so...
Ino's grandmother, Sooseji's name means sausage. Her grandfather, Beekon's name means bacon.
Next time, I think I might do a KakaAnko (idea courteousy of my onee-chama). Stick around to find out!