The prison walls echoed the sound of Sakiko's boots as she rushes into Ryan's open arms that were waiting for her.

"Thank god," Ryan breathes, nuzzling his face in her shoulder, "Are you okay?"

Sakiko was still trembling from the gunfire they'd quite literally ran into on their way here.

Woodbury had pulled up outside the prison fences, breaking down the main gate and setting walkers loose in the field. Sakiko, Nanami, Daryl, and Merle had came just in time to see Rick being pinned down by walkers.

Then, they fought through the prison yard and made it safely inside where the others were processing the entire scene as well.

"Are you?" Sakiko asks Ryan.

"Better now," he decides.

"Me too," Sakiko agrees, pulling away to look up at him.

They trade soft smiles before looking around to the others.

"It's so good to see you!" Carol gushes, pulling Nanami into a tight hug.

Nanami cringes in pain, but didn't heave the heart to tell the woman of his condition. Instead, Daryl pats Carol's back.

"Get Doc to look at him. Then, you can smother him," Daryl advises.

"Are you hurt?" Sophia asks with wide eyes.

Hershel hobbles over on his crutch as Nanami peels his jacket off with Daryl's help.

"Shot," Nanami flinches as Hershel's hand rests near the wound, "Day or so ago."

"And you're just now coming by?" Hershel scolds, "Come on. Let me go have a look at you, son."

Nanami nods, following Hershel into a cell. Sophia follows right after, too shocked to say anything even though her worry was high. Daryl gives Sakiko a look and she nods- Daryl soon following to be of any help to Hershel.

Before Sakiko could say anything else, Ryan is wrapping her into another warm hug.

--

"This is stupid," Sakiko frowns.

"It's a precaution," Carl rephrases, locking the door.

Sakiko looks to Merle and Nanami who were locked on the other side.

"It's fine," Nanami reassures, "Really."

"Hershel will be by later to check on your wound," Carl informs before walking away.

Sakiko rests her forehead on the bars and Nanami breathes out a small laugh that leaves a lingering smile on his lips.

"To be honest, I kinda thought this was always going to be the other way around," Nanami admits.

Sakiko scoffs, rolling her eyes, "Rot in there then, you jerk."

Nanami laughs, making Sakiko gradually giggle as well. Nanami places his hand over his sister's a gentle look in his eyes that she was afraid she'd never see again.

"It'll all be all right," Nanami comforts, "We've been through worse."

Slowly, Sakiko nods, "We have."

The weight of knowing what happened to their father leaves tension in the air. The twins were feeling such an array of emotions that they weren't sure if they were feeling anything at all.

Relieved knowing that Shinsuke wouldn't find them and put them through more, anger for him taking the easy way and leaving them behind, grief for losing him, release for moving on.. Everything.

--

"These people are dangerous," Rick states the obvious, "They have a history of wiping groups out without a reason. You can imagine what they would do to a group that they have a reason to fight against."

"This is Merle's fault," Maggie stands, "We should just hand him over and have it done with."

"I started this," Sakiko argues.

"I'm the one who forced you to go there," Nanami defends his sister from herself.

"What's it matter pointing fingers on whose fault it is?" Beth asks, "It's done and you can all argue until you're blue in the face- it won't change anything because we're already here."

 "We have to fight if this talk doesn't go right," Rick takes control of the conversation again, "We either talk it out or duel it out. There's no such thing as middle ground anymore."

"I'll go with you," Nanami offers, resting his arms through the bars.

"No," Daryl shuts down, "Just me and Rick for this one."

"You need someone who's been on both sides in case things go south," Nanami reminds before looking to Merle, "And no offence, but I think everyone trusts me more than you."

"If y'all go, then I go," Merle argues.

"No," Rick is the one to deny this time.

"Cause you ain't trust me?" Merle asks, raising his eyebrows.

"Exactly," Rick answers bluntly, receiving a glare from Merle.

"I should go with you," Hershel speaks up.

"Daddy," Maggie shakes her head, "No."

"I'll stay in the car and be your driver. But, you all need someone to remind you of what waits back home," Hershel argues back with a soft voice.

"Okay," Rick nods, pointing around, "The four of us, then."

"Me too," Sakiko hurriedly stands, looking between Nanami and Daryl, "You two going means I have to."

"If this goes south and ends up in a shootout.." Rick trails off.

"Then, I'll pull myself together and deal with it," Sakiko crosses her arms defensively, "You take three of us or none of us."

"Kiko.." Daryl sighs, tugging her toward him with a gentle pull on her shoulder.

"You can't-" Sakiko tries until Daryl shushes her.

His voice drops to a whisper, unheard by anyone other than Sakiko, "I need your eyes here. Keep Merle in tact. Help Glenn and Maggie keep things in order. Watch out for Michonne. Keep watch for sightings of Woodbury blindsiding you while we're out there."

Sakiko begins to argue until she sees the stern look in Daryl's eyes. Sighing, her shoulders slump.

"Fine," she mutters.

Daryl pats her shoulders, looking to Rick, "When do we leave out?"

"Morning," Rick answers, "You three should get some rest.. We meet with The Governor tomorrow."

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

what if i told you all that this book was ending soon 🙃🙃