Crow's feathers - Naruto fanfiction

Chapter 72 Motionless

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.”