"When we get there, Sakiko stays back at the car," Rick voices, glancing to the others in the back seat.

"What?" she asks, "I said I would help, not stick back and-"

"We need eyes in all directions. You stay by the car and keep watch. Anything goes south, you and Ryan get back to the prison and warn the others."

"My brother-"

"Will be fine once we get to him," Rick cuts Ryan off, "We need you two here, not in there."

"Rick," Sakiko complains.

"We don't know what could happen in there. If we get caught in some shootout, it's safest you're out of it," Rick reminds.

At the thought, Sakiko is shrinking back in her seat.

"We get Glenn and Maggie out, we send 'em to you. Then, you can tend to them and get back home in case something happens," Rick plans.

Sakiko meets Daryl's eyes in the mirror, a look in his eyes that was challenging her to speak against the wishes.

"Okay," Sakiko sighs.

"Ryan?" Rick asks, throwing him a look over his shoulder.

"Yes, sir," Ryan gives in.

"All right. We know our places," Rick nods, setting his views back on the road.

--

Trudging through Woodbury, Nanami felt claustrophobic.

This huge town with seventy people felt like a tiny broom closet as Nanami felt his thoughts clutter against one another.

He nearly walked past his apartment as he was so lost in his thoughts, shaking his head at his own actions before heading inside. Once in the room, he drops his bag on the floor and collapses onto the couch.

Nothing.

Not a single trace of Michonne or Sakiko.

Cursing under his breath, Nanami runs his hands over his face as he tries to figure out what to do next.

Woodbury was safe and dangerous at the same time.

The walls, the supplies.. Those were necessary to life now.

The murder and manipulation.. Those could be the end of him.

But, his hands were already tainted. He couldn't change that. So, he had to find a purpose in that.

He could take the supplies and go.. Just like they were meant to at the quarry. He could take the supplies, leave, and find Michonne and Sakiko.

But, then there's Merle.. Merle praised him so much that it made Nanami's head spin. Merle seemed to be looking out for him- he even said they were family. If Merle was family, could Nanami betray him like that? What if he told Merle? Would Merle leave like they were always meant to or side with the town that had gotten under his own skin?

Heaving a long groan, Nanami feels his headache worsen and clenches his eyes shut.

Too much. Everything was too much.

--

"Be safe," Daryl pats Sakiko's shoulder.

"You're the one infiltrating a town," Sakiko reminds.

"Still," Daryl shrugs, strapping his bow over his back.

"Will you bring him back to?" Sakiko wonders quietly so the others didn't hear.

"'m gonna try," Daryl admits, glancing to Rick to also make sure he wasn't listening, "I can't promise nothing. But, 'm gonna try."

"Both?"

Daryl hesitates. Merle was his brother. He couldn't leave any family behind. But, that would stress Sakiko out even more and possibly lead to an argument. Just for now-

"Just Nanami," Daryl lies.

Sakiko wishes that she believed him. But, she knew that look in his eyes. It was the same one he held when he had to tell the twins that Merle was on his way to Atlanta. Guilt, maybe?

"Be safe," Daryl repeats.

"Yes, dad," Sakiko rolls her eyes.

It was in a mocking way- a joke. Then, why did Daryl's heart speed up?

--

Was ADHD contagious? Nanami was beginning to think that Sakiko's had worn off onto him. Then again, maybe it was just the genes.

He couldn't sit still. He couldn't think straight. He was pacing, then he was calm. Why was the room spinning? When had he made it back outside? Where was he going? What was he doing?

"Hey, son," Governor greets as he was walking by, "It's almost curfew. Shouldn't you be inside?"

"Needed some fresh air," Nanami admits, resting his head on the railing of the steps he was sat at.

Governor nods, taking a seat beside Nanami that only has the hair on the teen's arm stick up.

"You know, those soldiers," Governor begins, "This world would be in better tact had they done their job properly."

"Maybe that's what they were trying to do. They had a helicopter- maybe they were trying to secure an area," Nanami can't hold his argument back.

"If they wanted to, they would have already. Instead, it was up to the rest of us to take care of each other. Make places like this possible. You're a part of that now," Governor smiles, patting Nanami's knee.

Nanami stares at the hand on his leg, a few choice words laying on his tongue as he hears his mind fighting his heart. It was like the little angel and devil on his shoulder- but they both had the face and voice of his sister.

Slapping the Governor's hand from his leg, Nanami shoots the man a glare, "Don't touch me."

Governor's smile slowly drops until a cold look of his own is resting in his eyes, "Come again?"

"I said 'don't touch me'," Nanami holds his ground.

Governor nods and for a second, Nanami's confidence falters until that cheesed out grin returns to the leader's face.

"Sorry about that. Merle told me about your story.. I wasn't thinking properly. My fault," Governor assures, so fake that Nanami felt queasy.

More anger burned in his chest at the thought of this man knowing his personal history by someone else's words. That was his story to tell by his choice- not Merle's.

"Where is Merle?" Nanami asks, pushing himself to his feet.

"Couldn't tell you," Governor lies, but Nanami sees through it this time.

Without another word, Nanami storms away from the man in search of Merle.

Governor sits in his spot for a few seconds before glancing to Shumpert who was watching from across the street. Shumpert takes the unspoken order and jogs over to the leader.

"Sir," Shumpert nods.

"It seems we have a problem," Governor sighs, watching Nanami's back, "Clean it up for me, would you?"

"Yes, sir," Shumpert accepts.

The Governor stands, a hand on his man's shoulder as his voice drops to a whisper.

"Merle hears nothing of this, either. As far as Merle is concerned, the kid went on a run and hasn't come back."

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

shoutout to rick for looking out for sakiko

someone just help nanami out the boy is losing it