In the cool air of the night, Sophia burrows herself deeper into the jacket that was shared between Daryl and the twins. Nanami gives her a kind smile that makes Sophia smile back and Sakiko roll her eyes.

"How much longer do you think we have?" Nanami asks.

"From the time I found you in the water till we found her," Sakiko shrugs, "I don't have a watch."

"Daryl has been worried about you," Sophia quietly reveals, "He hasn't been himself since you've been gone."

Nanami watches the back of Sakiko's head from her spot in the driver seat of the car, wondering why he couldn't understand what was going on in there.

"How about you just start figuring out how to apologize to your mom for running off," Sakiko tells Sophia.

"Well.. Shouldn't you do the same?" Sophia questions, "For Daryl? I get he's your stepdad, but he's still your dad. He's a better dad than mine, anyway."

"Why don't you keep your daddy issues to yourself and I'll keep mine to myself, hm?"

"Kiko-"

"Nanami, can you not butt in for two seconds?" Sakiko sneers.

Sophia flinches at the tone in her voice, Nanami sighing in annoyance.

"Maybe you should sort out your daddy issues so you stop being a brat," Nanami offers.

"You say that like we don't have the same dad," Sakiko scoffs.

"Yeah, well it's clear that he's got a bigger hold on you than he does on me."

"Right," Sakiko laughs, "Because you weren't the one that had a knife pulled on you by some junkie. You weren't the one that got beat every day because you ran off to a friend's house. You didn't sneak out and sleep on the side of the road at night because you're too scared to be left alone with him. That was me. Not you."

"Daryl.. Daryl hit you?" Sophia whispers.

Sakiko's eyes held flames in them as she reaches over to grab her bag.

"Sakiko-"

"If you say one more word, I swear to God I will honk this horn until every geek in the world hears it and tears you to shreds," Sakiko warns.

The twins hold tense eyes to one another before Sakiko rips the door open, stepping out with her supplies and slamming the door behind her.

"Hey!" Nanami calls before looking to Sophia, "Just stay here. I'll be back."

Sophia gives a quick nod and Nanami opens his door, chasing after Sakiko.

"Kiko!" Nanami shouts.

"What?" Sakiko cries, "What do you want?"

"I want you! I want my sister to talk to me instead of getting angry and running off!"

"I don't want to talk about dad. I don't want to talk about Daryl. I don't want to talk about Merle. I don't want to talk about geeks. I don't want to talk! I don't want to think! I just want to be left alone, Nanami! Please, can you give me that?"

"Why me?" Nanami asks, stepping closer, "I'm your brother. I know you better than anyone, but right now I feel like I've never met you a day in my life."

"And maybe that's the problem!" Sakiko shouts, "Maybe I just want to be alone. From everyone. I just want to go somewhere where there's no one. Or at least no one that knows who I am."

Nanami clenches his jaw, forcing the tears away that dared to build, "Is that really what you want?"

Sakiko's doesn't answer, only nodding her head.

"Fine," Nanami spits, "Go. Leave. I don't care anymore. I'll tell Daryl that you're dead."

"Good luck getting back without me," Sakiko hisses, pulling her bag further up her shoulder.

Nanami watches Sakiko as she stomps away into the woods, a lump in his throat forming. Once her figure is gone, he breathes in shakily. He jumps when arms wrap around his waist before settling when he realizes it was Sophia.

"I'm sorry," Sophia whispers, "But, I won't let you be alone."

Nanami pats her hand, "Thanks, Sophia."

--

Nanami had enough memory of their surroundings to find he and Sophia's way back to the river the next morning. There, Sophia was able to remember where she and Rick had ran and showed Nanami the way. Once the silver rails were in sight, Nanami and Sophia climb up the steep hill together.

"Momma?" Sophia calls, "Mommy?"

"Sophia?" Dale's distant voice calls.

"Dale!" Sophia gasps out.

At once, there's running footsteps all around as Dale, Andrea, and Carol rush over.

"Baby!" Carol cries, opening her arms.

"Momma!" Sophia whimpers, meeting her mother in a hug halfway.

The mother and daughter collapse to the ground, sobs retching from both of them.

"Nanami," Andrea takes notice.

Nanami nervously shuffles his feet, nodding back to them.

"My word.. We thought.. After the camp.." Dale tries to piece together.

"He saved me," Sophia reveals, looking to Nanami through her tears, "I was running and a walker almost got me.. He saved me. Then, he helped me get back."

Carol shakily stands up, hands rubbing Sophia's shoulders before stumbling to Nanami. Once close enough, Carol grapples Nanami into a tight hug that takes Nanami off guard.

"Thank you," Carol cries in his ear, kissing his cheek, "Thank you."

Nanami nods awkwardly, "I did what I thought was right."

Carol kisses his cheek once again before moving back to hug Sophia. There, Nanami takes notice of how the group of three were the only ones around.

"Everyone else is at a farm.. It's.." Dale sighs, "A long story. But, everyone's okay. Daryl should be back any second."

As though he'd felt his name being mentioned, the trees rattle on the other side of the road before Daryl is emerging from them. He steps over the railing before noticing everyone grouped together. A sigh of relief leaves his lips as he spots Sophia- one of the reasons he'd just been in the woods. Then, he spots his second.

"Nanami?" Daryl asks.

Nanami doesn't move, too worried he'd spill the bitter truth of Sakiko's whereabouts and how it all went down.

Instead, it's Daryl who's feet pick up speed and rushes to Nanami. He drops his bow along the way before dragging Nanami into a hug. Nanami was almost to stunned to react, surprised by the sudden affection that was a secret promise to not show.

Daryl holds the back of Nanami's head, keeping him tucked away in his chest to make sure he'd never leave again.

"You're good?" Daryl asks, looking down to his boy.

His eyes trace his features, taking in the cuts and scrapes he'd sustained before moving his hands to his arms and hands.

"I'm good," Nanami forces out, "Really."

With another breath of relief, Daryl tugs Nanami into a calmer hug.

"Don't you ever go anywhere without me again, kid," Daryl whispers, "Had me scared shitless."

Swallowing the knot in his throat, Nanami nods in agreement before his arms wrap around Daryl's waist, clinging tighter to him.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

kiko stop being moody and love your brother challenge

daryl and nana reunion i love two men only