Dear cousin,

…I know you said you needed time, but perhaps you should write to him. He’s starting to drive me crazy…

***

Dear Kakashi,

Taryn sighed and stared at the paper. Two hours and these were the only words she could come up with. What was she supposed to write?

Neji had complained in his last letter. She knew it wasn’t fair to let him deal with this. She had to solve her own problems. She just wasn’t ready yet.

She didn’t look up when Sasuke walked passed her and into the kitchen to find something to eat. Their daily routine consisted of ignoring each other. The only reply she ever received from him was barely more than ‘hn’ while he never directed any part of conversation towards her.

At least they hadn’t killed each other yet.

Taryn rubbed her temple and focused on the letter again. With a frustrated sigh she put the pen and paper aside.

There was a rapping sound against the doorframe and Kankuro walked inside. He ignored Sasuke and walked straight up to his sister. “Hey sis, what are you up to today?” He smirked and sat down beside her on the couch. He pulled a face and plucked the pen and paper from underneath him. He stared at the unfinished letter for a moment and grinned amused. “Finally making some progress I see. You do know more words are required to actually call it a letter, right?”

Taryn snatched the paper away from him. “Stay out of it,” she growled and crumbled it.

“Taryn…”  Kankuro started.

“Was there a reason for your visit?” Taryn cut him off.

“I wanted to visit my nephew,” Kankuro answered, “if that’s alright with you.”

Taryn sighed and ran a hand across her face. “Yes of course. I’m sorry. I just had a lot on my mind.” 

Kankuro nodded and glanced at Sasuke, who pretended he hadn’t been listening.

“Listen,” Kankuro said to his sister, “why don’t you go out for a while? Clear your head. I’ll watch Ichiru. You’ve been stuck in the house ever since he was born two months ago.” 

“I don’t know,” Taryn said.

“It’s not a suggestion,” Kankuro told her, “out. Now. Take a long walk. I don’t want to see you back here for the next hour.” He pointed at the door. “Don’t make me get your students.” 

“Heh.” A small smile appeared on Taryn’s lips. She looked at her brother. “Alright.” 

“Good girl.”

The graveyard was silent. Taryn stared at the stone in front of her and sighed as she kneeled down. ‘All I seem to be doing these days is visiting graves, but this visit was long overdue.’  She placed a flower on the grave and stayed kneeled for a moment longer.

“Taryn-sama,” a surprised female voice said to her right.

Taryn stood up and looked at the woman she recognized as Kodan’s mother.

“Motou-san,” she said quietly. She was a little uncomfortable in front of the woman. After all, she was the one that had killed her son.

Kodan’s mother came to stand at her side and stared at her son’s grave. “It’s nice of you to visit him,” she said, “he liked you a lot. You were like a younger sister to him.”

“I wanted to come sooner,” Taryn said, “I should have come sooner. I should have come to you in person.”

Kodan’s mother shook her head. She took Taryn’s hand. “We don’t blame you for anything, dear. We are grateful that you brought him home. Thank you.”

Taryn closed her eyes and lowered her head. Tears burned in her eyes. “He told me to tell you that he loved you,” she whispered, “just before he told me to kill him.”

Kodan’s mother took a step closer and wrapped her arms around Taryn. “Ah come now child. It’s alright to cry..” She sighed. “You’ve had a lot on your plate, even when you were still a child. Speaking of, where is that little bun of yours? I haven’t seen him yet.”

“He’s at home,” Taryn said while carefully freeing herself from the woman’s embrace, “my brother is watching him.”

“You should bring him over sometime. If people were to see him, and Sasuke too, perhaps it will ease their mistrust.”

“I don’t know,” Taryn said softly.

“Think about it,” Kodan’s mother said. She placed a hand against Taryn’s cheek. “Alright? You can come to us any time.” She smiled. “I remember the two of you sitting at our kitchen table, together with Inari, discussing missions and training tactics.” She sighed sadly. “It seems so long ago.”

“Thank you,” Taryn said, “you have always been kind to me.” She sighed. “Has Kuro returned yet from Kiri?”

“Not yet,” the woman answered, “we expect a  bird any day now.” Her eyes saddened. “we were shocked to hear he had to face Suzaku on the battlefield. It must have been so hard on him. Poor boy.”

“He was very brave,” Taryn said, “I’m proud of him. And I’m sure his brother was too.”

Both women looked up at the sky when a falcon flew over their head.

“I think it’s for you,” Kodan’s mother said. She looked at Taryn. “Remember what I’ve said.”

Taryn nodded at her. “I will.” She looked at the hawk one more time and headed towards Gaara’s office.

***

Day 23 of the fifth month

First year of the Great Peace

From Mifune of Iron

To the council of Iwagakure

We would like to inform you that the new tools you have ordered are ready to be collected.

***

“One thing is certain,” Sakura said, “Kabuto was very detailed in his findings, but I’m not even sure what I’m looking for.”

“I don’t thinks he was looking for a cure,” Shikamaru flipped through the stack of papers that Sakura had managed to find. He sighed. “I don’t know Sakura. I know you want to cure this guy, but I think it’s no use. Maybe you should consider the possibility that there is no cure.”

“You sound just like Kakashi,” Sakura said. 

Shikamaru sighed. Stubborn girls were such a bother, but he was told to help Sakura decipher Kabuto’s notes and investigations. “I’ll take another look at it,” he said.

Sakura smiled. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. There might be nothing to find. Besides, I’ve got other responsibilities as well. This doesn’t exactly take priority.” 

“I know. Still, thanks.” She watched as Shikamaru stood up and left the room, muttering something about troublesome duties. She let out a sad sight. These past couple of months had been really busy. They had left five medics behind in the Lightning Country to take care of the wounded. Only now had they been able to return to Konoha. She expected them back any day now.

Because of that, the remaining medics had had to work double shifts, including her. She hadn’t had much time for anything else. She hadn’t seen Naruto and Sai in weeks. Their new position kept them busy too.

She glanced out of the window. There was still a little bit of daylight left. 

She pushed away from her desk and headed outside in the direction of the Memorial Stone.

***

Sasuke kept stealing glanced at Kankuro. Taryn had left the house hours ago and hadn’t returned yet. He wondered where she had gone, but knew better than to ask her brother.

What he really wanted was to keep himself in his room until the puppeteer was gone. Or better yet, he wanted Kankuro to just leave. He’d prefer Taryn’s quiet presence over her siblings’ judgmental glares any day.

But Kankuro had no intention of leaving and Sasuke himself didn’t want to give him the impression he had gained some victory over the Uchiha.

Besides, Ichiru was sleeping in his bed. For some reason he couldn’t stay away from his nephew. He could spend hours watching the infant, searching for a trace of his brother in the child’s features.

It was probably still too early for that.

Sasuke felt Kankuro’s eyes on his back when he walked towards Ichiru.

He’s love to wipe the disdaining look off the older shinobi’s face, but he restrained himself. It would lead nowhere. The only thing he’d achieve would be to get locked up in prison. He had no illusions. This was Suna. No one would hold Taryn responsible for his actions. Not here.

Sasuke traced a finger across Ichiru’s cheek and the little boy looked at him with sparkling eyes. How long would it take for those eyes to become cold towards him too?

The front door opened and Taryn stepped inside. She glanced at him shortly and then joined her brother.

“Better now?” Kankuro asked.

Taryn nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”

“So where’d you go?”

There was a pause. “I went to visit Kodan,” Taryn answered.

Kankuro’s eyes turned sad and he nodded in understanding.

It sparked Sasuke’s interest, he had never heard that name before, but he hid his curiosity.

“His mother was there,” Taryn continued. Her voice broke. “She invited me to diner.”

“You used to be at their house a lot,” Kankuro said softly. 

Taryn kept quiet.

“She doesn’t blame you, Taryn.” 

Sasuke tilted his head too listen in on the conversation. Taryn was a very closed person in front of him and it wasn’t like they really talked. She was different around her brother and if he ever wanted to figure her out, this was his chance.

“How would you know?” 

“Because I talked to her,” Kankuro said, “I was the one that brought them the scroll with Kodan’s body.”

Sasuke averted his eyes and placed another blanket on Ichiru. So this Kodan had been a friend of hers. At least, that was what it sounded like. And Taryn somehow had something to do with his death, seeing she felt guilty.

He thought back on his fight with Itachi. Had he known the truth then, things might have gone differently.

Taryn looked at her brother for a while and nodded. “Thank you.” She hugged him.

“If you ever need anything, just say so, okay?” Kankuro said.

Taryn sighed and kept quiet. The way her brother looked at her made her wonder if Gaara had told her siblings the whole story. But she didn’t ask. She nodded. “I will.”

“Good,”  Kankuro said. He patted her shoulder. “Finish that letter will you? Gaara has enough to deal with without acting as go between.” He winked at her and walked out the door.

Taryn sighed and shook her head. She walked over to Ichiru, where Sasuke was still ignoring the rest of the world.

She picked the child up and cradled it against her shoulder. She felt Sasuke’s eyes on her, but chose to ignore it. She wasn’t in the mood for arguing. Sometimes she wished he would just leave. She was actually surprised that he hadn’t tried already.

Sasuke scoffed as Taryn walked away. His eye fell on the letter she has started earlier today and was still lying on the table. He stared at the two words. Dear Kakashi. His eyes narrowed. They kept in touch. Did she write about him to his former sensei? Were they exchanging ideas on how to handle him? The thought angered him. He was sick of people deciding his life for him.

He glared at Taryn’s back and crumpled the paper.

---

A/N Have yu been wondering waht Taryn's tatoo looks like? I added a picture to the side. It's something like that. --->

Please check out my new story Clash of the Brats.It's a colab with Amaterasu and includes more Taryn and her students :) The first chapter was just posted. I would really appreciate some feedback :)