A/N- Thank you! All of you! Thanks for supporting me with this. It seems to be such a big hit with all of you. I will be doing more horse stories for you all since there is a lack of horsebackriding stories. I would make a small little thing. Thanks Kerpal Bubbles, Merridaine, (they've been with me when the day it came out. Oh! I LOVE BOTH! *showers you two in love!*, sasusaku11( she got my head straight. :D You all need to thank her ) and just everyone! Thanks again! *gives everyone cookies!*

Rain suddenly drowned Sakura's ears. She did not open her eyes, fearing of facing the day. She gripped the sheets around her tighter so that she was in more a ball. A yawn escaped her mouth. Sakura was tired. She was making sure she had everything she needed to show today. She was frantic over Ace and almost drowned him in show shine just in case he decided to roll in his own poop. Another thing that contributed to her hard sleeping, was that it was raining. Everytime it was raining she seemed to be gone to the world.

"I KNOW YOU WANT ME!" Naruto sang loudly and suddenly. Sakura gripped her sheets in annoyance.

"Shhh! Sakura is still trying to sleep." Hinata whispered to Naruto

In a low voice Naruto contined, "You know I want cha!"

Door was closed and now Sakura laid on the bed. She slowly opened eyes. She looked lazily around the hotel room that she was staying in for the night.

"Mayday….mayday….somebody save me….i am fragile…..somebody save me from myself," The words were sung in her ears slowly and peacefully. The beautiful piano played its perfect melody. Sakura moved a hand up to her ear and noticed that she fell asleep with her ipod on again. She laid very still letting the song take over her mind slowly.

"How can this be?....I tried and tried and tried….but im still lost out at sea…."

Sakura then decided that it was a good time to get up. She put her hand over her headphones then followed the cord to find her ipod. It was right underneath her thigh, the screen almost sticking to her skin. She took it out and turned it off. Sakura felt a little heart sick from sad songs. She wrapped her headphones around the little music box then let it slide out of her hand and on to the carpeted floor. She let her arm lay dead over the bed and leaned to look at the clock.

11:25.

She had to be at the barn by 12. Sakura took a big breath and slowly got out of bed. Her body ached for a few moments but she completely ignored it as she got herself ready for the day. She changed into jeans. She went over to her duffle bag and began to search through the mess. She took out a bandage. She sighed as she first put Iceyhot around her ankle. The smell burned her nose making it scrunch in disgust. She wrapped the bandaged around her ankle securely. "There, this little problem is not going to be in my today."

'Today's the day…' She thought, 'I cant believe I'm actually here…' Sakura threw on her red polo. She threw on her boots and chaps.

The door opened to reveal Hinata. She looked at Sakura and smiled, "Oh you got up!"

Sakura returned the smile, "Yeah, Naruto and his singing."

Hinata gave a small little laugh, "So sorry about that," She said as she came into the room. "You should go eat something before you go."

Sakura nodded as she brushed out her pink hair. She threw it up in a small ponytail then threw her toothbrush into her mouth.

"Oh look the rain seemed to stop," Hinata said as she was looking out the window watching the grey clouds passing them by.

Sakura rinsed her mouth out then replied, "That's good! I hate it when it rains. At least they have an indoor."

Hinata nodded still watching the clouds, "Yeah but you will be outside. There are too many classes."

Sakura frowned, "I hope they at least try to dry it out."

Hinata came over and set her hands on Sakura's shoulder. "You will be fine. Ace will be great and you will win against…..well you know…."

Sakura looked down to the floor, "Cant believe he is competing against me."

Hinata made Sakura look up at her, "Sakura, he loves you!"

Sakura whipped her head away, getting away from Hinata's touch. "No he doesn't."

This made Hinata angry. She knew when people were perfect for each other. She could read chemisty. It was like she could look inside them and into their souls.

"Sakura!" Hinata's usual timid voice was replaced by a big one. "It wasn't even Ino's fault! Sasuke didn't do anything either!"

Sakura raised an eyebrow not believing her friend at all, "Oh? And you are going to tell me that Santa is actually the playboy bunny man?"

Hinatta grabbed Sakura's shoulder. Sakura flinched under Hinata's intense stare that it almost made her squeak in terror. "Ino was FORCED! YOU HEAR ME! FORCED! Why do you think she went to Orochimaru's barn?"

Sakura looked at the floor once again feeling depression coming on, "Because then Sasuke and Ino can make out whenever they want…"

Hinata shook Sakura, "NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO"

That's when Naruto walked in! He stared at the girls and how Hinata got violent. He thought about breaking it up but instead he took two steps back and closed the door.

"You know how Ino is all about the whole Yamanaka Flowers business whatever?" Hinata asked Sakura, stopping the violent shaking. Sakura just stood limp in Hinata's grasp feeling like a rag doll.

Hinata told her anyway since Sakura felt abused, "Well my dad was at the meeting and brought cousin Neji along! Orochimaru almost drove Ino's business out! She had no choice! So Orochimaru set her up with Sasuke!"

The shaking began once more, "CANT YOU SEE! HE IS TRYING TO GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE GAME!"

Naruto sung High School Muscial behind the door.

"SHUT IT NARUTO!...err…I mean…honey!" Hinata smiled at the door then slowly and deadly turned to face Sakura again. "Do you understand me, Sakura?"

Sakura shakily nodded, "Uh-huh…"

"WHAT WAS THAT?"

"YES Ma'am!"

Hinata dropped her, "Good girl! Now go eat a good meal so that you can be focused for your division and kick some snake butt okay? Bye!"

Hinata left the room and skipped away with Naruto to go see Naruto's new teacher, Jiraya.

Sakura went to the little breakfeast bar and got herself a muffin with orange juice. Sakura sat alone at a little table thinking over her courses for today. She saw a clock in front of her and stared at it.

11:45

"Staring at the clock wont make it go any faster, Haruno."

This snapped Sakura's attention. She turned her head to see none other than Sasuke Uchiha stand with a bagel in his hand and milk in the other.

Sakura gave a little smile, "I tried."

Sasuke nodded to the empty chair in front of her, "May I sit with you?"

"Yes you can."

Sasuke slid into the chair and took a big bite out of his bagel. "Are you ready for the show today?"

Sakura nodded while she ate her muffin.

Sasuke felt uneasy for a second,wondering if he should just leave or continue to try and reconnect with her.

"How is Ace?"

This question made Sakura almost choke on her juice. She quickly let it go down her throat so that she could breathe correctly and think how to address the question.

"I shouldn't really be telling anything to my opponent." Sakura said simply.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Sakura! I'm not your enemy!"

Sakura looked him straight into his ebony eyes. The pain and anger were hiding in them. They were screaming out the truth to her. She felt tears come to her eyes. He cared. He always did.

"Hes not okay Sasuke," Sakura confessed no longer feeling hungry. "He wont look at me and he hardly wants me to ride him. It's horrible!" She hid her face in her hands. "How can we be a great team if we cant even trust each other?"

Warm arms wrapped her comfortingly. Her eyes widen as he felt Sasuke's breathe against her neck.

"I'm sorry for everything." He whispered in her ear.

Sakura was speechless. She didn't know what to say.

"Sasuke!" came a slimy voice, "Where are you!?" Orochimaru.

Sasuke pulled away from her but not till he stole a quick from her lips, "Good luck, Sakura."

He walked away from her and she couldn't even utter a word.

Sakura got to the stables and went to Ace. Ace was watching horses walk back and forth through the aisle ways.

"Hey boy!" Sakura chimed.

Ace perked his ears forward over at her. He pawed his stall, banging up against wall. Other horses neighed and even joined him.

"Silly horse," Sakura mused as she walked over to him. She went to him and began to pet him. Ace didn't look at her, his ears pinned down.

"Ace…" She cooed she kept petting him, going higher on his neck.

Ace did something he has never done to her. He turned around and bite her.

Sakura gasped but her anger came forth. She quickly slapped him right on the nose. Ace held his head up in surprise. Sakura grabbed her horse's head and looked straight at him.

"Ace. I have all my trust in you! You need to stop this. I'm sorry that I failed to keep up with you. Are not just some horse. You are MY horse. My little boy! You are my team mate and we are going to do our best today. I don't care if we don't place. All I care about is you doing your best."

Ace listened to the whole thing. He rested his head against her and closed her eyes.

Sakura smiled. She knew that, that was his way of saving I'm sorry. She put his halter on and a lead rope.

Ace was fairly clean. His grey dots popped out and he looked like he has been a show horse all his life. Sakura took him out of his little stall so that he could go out and munch on some good clean grass.

It was time to show. Sakura was getting ready while Naruto and Hinata tacked up Ace. Sakura had a nice blue jacket and a pink show shirt. Sakura doubled checked herself so nothing was out of place. Pink hair tucked into hair net. You had no idea how hard it was to find a pink hair net. Clean Jophers, tall boots and pen. Her belt was nicely around her waist.

Gloves.

She was missing gloves.

"HIINNATTAA!" Sakura screamed.

She almost knocked Hinata over as she ran into her. "I don't have gloves! I can't find them!" She gripped Hinata's sweatshirt, "I NEED GLOVES WOMAN!"

Hinata detached herself from Sakura, "Did you check your hat bag?"

"OF COURSE I CHECK MY- oh…no…I didn't…." Sakura walked off to check her hat bag. It was in there.

Sakura was pretty calm about everything. Till she noticed that it was her turn.

"I don't wanna go…" Sakura mumbled.

Hinata looked up at her, "When do you want to?"

"later…when no one is watching…and when im not going against professionals…"

Hinata laughed, "Good luck with that."

"I miss the caring Hinata," Sakura sighed.

"I miss you being happy and with Sasuke but life isn't fair."

Sakura took a deep breath trying to calm herself down.

"Sakura?"

"Hm?"

"Everything will be fine. You'll see."

Sakura smiled at Hinata one more time before she went in.

'okay….just breathe….remember everything….ride to the center…keep your pace….heels down and back arched…' Sakura kicked Ace forward to a trot. She posted a nice half circle, trying to keep her posting light. She picked up a canter and counted the pace in her head.

'one…two…one…two…one…two…'

She used her leg to turn Ace toward the first fence. Ace tensed up underneath her, signaling that he was about to jump. She went up into jumping position as Ace tucked his feet under him to sail over the fence.

Sakura counted her strides in between the jumps. A perfect five.

Sakura suddenly began to go off into a dream like state. This all felt so unreal. Her horse doing everything pefect. Sailing over the jumps and flying like an eagle. Something about a horses was so special. The bond that they share with the rider. They want to know if they should share their wings with you to fly. Do you? Should you put everything you knew into a horse? An animal that could kill you in a second? Yes, yes you would. You would trust them with everything in you. What good would it be to jump without trust. Say yes to the wings. Say yes to the partnership.

Sakura slowed Ace to a trot, trying to relax into the saddle. Ace came to a walk and exited the ring.

"That was great!" Naruto cried. The passing riders told him to be quiet.

"Good job, Sakura!" Hinata hugged Sakura's leg since she was up high on Ace.

Everything was good till she felt pain dart from her ankle all the way up to her head. She bit her lip trying to surpress the pain. She couldn't stop now. She had to continue.

When it was her turn again, Sakura noticed something.

"Where's Sasuke?"She asked.

Hinata and Naruto exchanged glances then smiled up at Sakura. She frowned, "What?"

"He's not competing."

"What!?"

Hinata giggled, "He switched to a different event."

Sakura stared at her long and hard.

"Number 222? Sakura Haruno? You are up."

Sakura clicked her tounge and made Ace trot in. As she was doing her hunter circle she noticed Sasuke watching her in the stands. Her heart fluttered in happiness as she squeezed Ace up into a canter.

The thing about life is that you couldn't just let problems get to you. You had to tackle every problem like a jump. You have to prepare yourself for the obstacle in your way, take it on head first, then just get over it. Once you are done with that. You have to go toward your next obstacle standing in your way.

Sakura finished up her course with another nice hunter circle and left the arena. She noticed that she was holding her breath the hold time. She exhaled and felt so relieved. She gave Ace a big pat on the neck, leaned over then kissed him. "What a good boy."

"Good job! Now all we have to do is wait for the others to finish then wait for the judge to decide!" Hinata hugged Sakura's leg again.

Sakura laughed as Naruto then hugged her other leg.

"What a good horse!" Naruto cried as he kissed Ace's nose.

Ace pulled his head away confused and slightly shocked.

"Well I'm going to go walk him out." Sakura said as she began to lead Ace toward the outside warm up ring.

"What a good boy…my lovely little boy…."

No one was out in the warm up ring which Sakura found a little odd. She shrugged out the nagging feeling, thinking that everyone was probably just using the indoor arena instead of the outdoor.

As she passed by one of the bushes she heard something move. She glanced over.

Hisss….

Her horse was suddenly missing from underneath her.

"SAKURA!"

Mayday…..

"Sakura! Come on! Open your eyes!"

Mayday…..

"You are banned from Kohana stables! Get out Orochimaru! I will make sure you will never show around ever again!"

Someone save me….

"Why does her ankle look weird….?"

From….

"Sakura….I love you…."

Myself…..

Light blinded her. She slowly opened her eyes trying to get use to light again. Oh, her head hurt really bad.

"Oh! She's awake everyone!" came a familiar voice.

Sakura was able to see that she was in the mud but in Sasuke's arms.

"What…happened?" Sakura asked feeling quite disoriented. She looked around for Ace. Her horse was standing next to Naruto who was holding his reins.

"Orochimaru scared your horse." Sasuke explained, "That's how he's been winning everything. By cheating."

Sakura slowly blinked, "But why…? I didn't win did i?"

Sasuke smiled. He lifted up her head gently and kissed her. Sakura knew that it was hard to kiss him right back. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him hard. Before any tounge came into play they broke apart realizing that Sakura was in need of medical care.

"You tried to fall on your feet but I guess gravity came into play and you hit your head hard on the dirt."

Sakura frowned, "I need a different helmet then."

Sasuke laughed and gave her another kiss, "I'm surprised that you don't feel your ankle."

Sakura moved up to look at it, "oh? Is it broken?"

"No. But you sure feel on it funny."

Sakura just buried herself in Sasuke's chest, "Don't worry. I will be complaining it to you later."

Sasuke smirked, "I will kiss it and make it better."

Tsunade came over with a first aid kit but she was in no mood to be gentle. She went and took care of Orochimaru personally before handing him over to barn security.

"TRAINER COMING THROUGH! SASUKE! PICK HER UP! AND ITS OFF TO PATCH HER UP!" Tsunade ordered.

Sasuke gave Sakura an unamused look. Sakura sheepishly smiled, "She was a doctor before she was a trainer."

"CHOP CHOP!"

Sasuke picked Sakura up. Naruto and Hinata took care of Ace while Sakura got herself patched up and to see if he ankle was going to be okay. Sakura then promised Sasuke that she would finally go to doctor to get it fixed.

"So….what did I place?" Sakura asked when she got done getting bandaged. She leaned against her horse's stall, watching him eat a well deserved dinner and some carrots.

Sasuke smiled, "Third."

Sakura stared long and hard at him. "Nu uh!"

Sasuke wrapped his arms around Sakura, not wanting to let his little cherry blossom go. "Yep, Third out of twenty-two. Good job, underdog." Sasuke murmured as he set his head on Sakura's shoulder.

Sakura reached out, petting her horses soft fur, "Good job my little boy. We sure showed them didn't we?"

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ALL DONE! I think this was a fairly good ending. I noticed half way through it that it wouldn't make any sense if I did my regular ending. Yeah, I should plan these things. So Orochimaru was behind the whole bad mammajammas! (haven't used that word in forever) By the way, this took me an hour to do. Or more. I don't know. I procrastinated here and there. Its 2:21 AM right now. I'm tired. Really really really tired. Now.

Songs Featured: Maday - The Icarus Account

it is a very nice song. I absolutely love it and its a nice little lullaby.

Heads up! Merridiane and I are going to do a collab! (I think) Stay tuned for that. Merri is such a good writer. Seriously. I don't think she knows that I read her stories. I do! I just don't review. I should. Kiss for you Merri! MWUAH!

So! I hoped you all liked it and go check out Retrieval especially if you liked Adventure/Romance. It's all spy like ! Another horse story will be out soon. Don't worry!

I love you all!