Collapsing onto the ground of the woods, Sakiko heaves unsteady breaths that feel like stabs to her lungs- sobs falling from her lips like it was the only thing she knew how to do.

She almost didn't hear the sounds of walkers approaching until it was falling to the ground in reach of her. Rolling, she kicks it's hands away and pulls one of her knives out. Through her tears, she wasn't sure if she would even make the shot. Regardless, she throws her knife to the walker that was still on it's feet- the knife sticking in deep to it's head.

Grabbing a tree, she pulls herself to her feet and pulls her bag closer around her. She grabs the arm of the walker on the ground that was now on it's knees. She stomps onto it's chest, following it down as she keeps a tight grip on it's wrist. With a growl of her own, she grabs it's other arm, bashing her foot down into it's head until it was hard to tell the thing was ever a person to begin with.

Stumbling, she drops the walker and trips over to pick up her knife she'd thrown, Snatching it up from the walker's head, she continues to run aimlessly.

--

The party made Nanami feel sick.

The smiles on everyone's faces made Nanami feel sick.

The feeling of perfectly cooked barbecue made Nanami feel sick.

The feeling of drinks with ice in it made Nanami feel sick.

Everything. Everything made him sick.

"You did good, son," Governor's voice makes Nanami's skin crawl.

"I killed people," Nanami swallows.

"You saved this community," Governor rephrases.

"We were doing well off before then," Nanami reminds.

"And look at us now," Governor waves to the people that were treating the summer day as some kind of festival.

Music was playing, kids were running with their dogs, couples were having 'dates', and everyone was smiling. Everyone except Nanami.

"Every laugh you hear, every smile you see.." Governor bends closer to Nanami's ear, "You did that. You brought joy to all these people's lives. You protected them. You saved them."

"When can Merle and I go on that run?" Nanami asks, looking to the Governor.

"Anytime you wish, son. Heroes do as they please," he smiles, patting Nanami's back before walking away.

He could see Michonne among the crowd- the way she stuck out among them all would normally have made Nanami laugh.

Nanami turns and walks away.

--

Sakiko woke up still outside- a bushel that had overgrown her home for the night.

She wasn't sure just how far out she'd gone, but she feared it wasn't far enough. Then, she remembered that even if the others were looking for her, they couldn't track her.

Not like..

As the name dares to try and enter her brain, she knocks the heel of her palm against her head to scold herself.

She didn't even move from the bushes, she only laid on her back and stared at the limbs above her.

Empty. Sakiko felt empty.

--

"Have you seen Michonne?" Nanami asks Merle as the man walks out from the Governor's apartment.

"Who?" Merle asks.

"Michonne," Nanami nearly rolls his eyes, "The woman I came here with."

He hadn't wanted to talk to her earlier, but it was like the woman had suddenly vanished. He was still watching her from far away and then she was just.. gone.

"No, I ain't seen her," Merle denies.

Nanami sighs, pulling his bag further up his shoulder.

"What you got that out for? Why ain't you just enjoy the party? Kick back and relax, son," Merle offers.

"I'm going on that run," Nanami shakes his head, beginning to walk away, "I was just gonna tell you and Michonne. If you see her then tell her I'll be back before night."

"Thought we was going together?" Merle calls to the teen's back.

"Need to clear my head and practice," Nanami shrugs him off.

Merle only watches him go but figures it's for the best. Nanami still thought things were going to be okay here. He said it himself that he was coming back.

Nanami didn't need to know that Michonne was being questioned by the Governor on why she'd killed the walkers that were their 'entertainment' for the night.

--

Sakiko wanted walkers to walk by.

Nanami didn't want anything living near him.

Sakiko wanted something to release her anger out on.

Nanami just wanted to forget his anger.

Sakiko was empty.

Nanami was sick.

Sakiko was grieving.

Nanami was a murderer.

Sakiko was alone.

Nanami was alone.

Maybe that's why they found each other again.

--

Trailing through the woods seemed to be the best idea for Nanami. Maybe he wouldn't run into anything he would have to kill.

Sakiko was tracking the footprints in the dirt- hoping she could put down another walker. She wanted to blame every walker for what they took and make them all pay.

Once the footprints even out more, she circles around to cut the walker off. With her knife clenched in her hand, she runs out from the trees, kicking the thing in the leg.

Nanami grunts in pain at the sudden force, reaching for his gun that he knew he wouldn't be able to shoot unless it was a walker.

As Nanami falls to his knees, he pulls his gun out as Sakiko raises her knife. Just before either could inflict danger upon the other, their eyes meet.

The gun and knife both fall to the ground at the same time the tears set free from the twins' eyes.

"You're alive," Sakiko whimpers, falling to her knees in front of her brother.

"Kiko.." Nanami whispers.

The twins clash in a hug, falling onto the ground in their embrace. They didn't care about the dirt sticking to them or the leaves in their hair- they had found each other.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

my babies 🥺