I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I'm sure it's probably glaringly obvious by now, but I adore Makku. He's one of my favourite OC characters I've ever created, hence why he got his own fanfic. I won't take all the credit, though. I swear he literally wrote himself. I started with a vague idea and then he just morphed into existence with zero effort. As always, thank you everyone for all your reviews, and I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 314: Words of Guidance

Makku Inoune

Odaiba, Japan, Earth

It was just past eight in the evening, and stepping into the foyer of the Motomiya residence, Makku paused, his amber eyes searching the immediate area for any signs of life. The house seemed oddly quiet, and letting out a loud yawn, he turned to glance back at the kitchen, which was the room he had left only moments ago. As far as he was aware, most of the others had gone home after dinner, but that hadn't stopped the group congregating in the aforementioned kitchen from carrying on as if they intended to stay there all night. Despite Noriko's protests, Kari and June had taken it upon themselves to do the dishes, and smiling at the obvious hint that she should sit back and relax, the dark-haired female had finally settled into a chair at the table with a snoozing Rina curled comfortably in her arms. Next to Noriko, T.K. and Shinji had struck up a spirited conversation about novels and creative writing, leaving the three women to engage in idle conversation. The overall effect had created a nice buzz of background noise, and recognising that his blond partner was likely going to be awhile, Makku had left the two men to their own devices before making a grand exit.

Far be it from me to interrupt when Shinji's clearly enjoying himself. This is the first opportunity he's had to speak with T.K., and I can tell he appreciates being able to exchange ideas and opinions with somebody who understands his passion. After all, T.K.'s an accomplished writer with many years of experience, and I know he's always happy to give advice and support where he can. Shinji can learn a lot from the knowledge T.K. has to offer, and I hope it helps his confidence in the future. Plus, he looks super cute when he's excited and eager to talk. That fire in his eyes is so breathtaking...

Though the golden-haired teen was no longer in sight, Makku could feel his whole body melting just from the picture his imagination and managed to conjure up inside his head. It was no secret that Shinji had a rather alarming effect on his heart, but he wasn't about to let such a lovely weakness embarrass him. If anything, knowing his blond partner could capture his attention so easily made the older teen that much more enticing, and smiling at his own amusing thoughts, he waited a moment for his amber eyes to adjust to the dim lighting casting shadows along the floor in the entryway before deciding on his next move.

I wonder...where did everybody go?

Though he would have been content to join the conversation with Shinji and T.K., since he loved being involved in his partner's interests and he found the subject of writing incredibly fascinating, there had been one thing weighing on his mind that had made it increasingly difficult for him to focus. As a result, his level of concentration had dropped considerably, and knowing those thoughts wouldn't leave him alone until he'd had the chance to analyse them, he had left the table to clear his head a bit in an effort to make sense of the chaos running rampant in his mind.

I wonder where he is. Maybe upstairs?

Tilting his head to the side, Makku glanced up at the ceiling, and straining his ears to listen, he was rewarded with the sound of laughter. If he had to make a guess, any of the remaining kids who were either staying the night or hadn't gone home yet were probably hanging out in Dai's room, which left only Joe and Davis, who had wandered up to the office earlier. Chances were, the few digimon who hadn't left the house with their partners were still enjoying their food induced comas in the living room with Shadow, and that meant he was on his own.

I would've liked to talk to him, but the situation isn't exactly ideal for a heart to heart...

Letting out a soft sigh, Makku had to admit he felt a little disappointed. After all, the thoughts currently eating away at his mind were the direct result of one delightfully frustrating individual, and that person was his dear cousin, Sam Ichijouji.

I didn't want to assume anything based off Izzy's words alone, but after seeing the two of them together for myself...

Whether the two boys knew it or not, the chemistry between them was undeniable, and having witnessed the obvious changes in their relationship for himself, Makku felt he could safely say there was something there that definitely hadn't been present before. The subtle glances flying in both directions and the shy hesitation to engage in physical contact were glaringly obvious to him, and their palpable need to be close to one another was achingly transparent. On the surface, much of their behaviour could be easily explained, since Sam and Mickey had always been quick to show affection, but on a deeper level he was certain both boys were well past an innocent hug or two.

The intensity in Sam's eyes whenever he even just glances at Mickey is a dead giveaway. I know what that look means because I see it all the time. It's the same exquisite look Shinji gives me, and I can never get enough of it. I wonder...does it have the same effect on Mickey?

While Makku was fairly confident he knew his cousin well enough to make an educated guess on the raven-haired Digidestined's feelings, Mickey was a different story. Since the older twin craved affection as a general rule, his charmingly sweet personality and innocent nature made it much more difficult to judge whether or not his actions held some sort of deeper meaning. Sam had likely come to the same realisation, which would explain the raven-haired Digidestined's careful movements and slight hesitation to engage in physical contact.

Knowing Sam, he probably hasn't come to terms with his feelings yet, and on a subconscious level he's unsure of whether or not he's taking advantage of Mickey's natural desire to be close to others. He probably feels guilty even though he hasn't done anything wrong, and Mickey's innocent need to share his personal space likely isn't helping...

But that was Mickey. The older twin loved being loved, and Sam was well aware of that fact. It had never been an issue before, but now Makku could foresee Mickey's longing for human touch causing a fairly large problem.

It's going to make it very difficult for Sam to figure out if the affection Mickey bestows upon him has some sort of hidden meaning. Enough, I think, to drive him crazy. He's going to start questioning everything Mickey does and whether or not it's intentional or just Mickey being Mickey...

At that moment, Makku felt a spark of sympathy for his cousin, especially considering the fact that he hadn't had to deal with the same situation. Shinji was older and quite mature for his age, and due to the fact that the blond writer had already known exactly what he wanted, Shinji had recognised the importance of making sure his intentions were very clear. Makku had responded in turn, and thus they had avoided the potential for any misunderstanding or misinterpretation. With regards to Sam and Mickey, the lines were blurred, and that was definitely going to be an issue.

I haven't had an opportunity to talk to Shinji about it yet, but I'm sure he noticed the way Sam and Mickey were acting towards each other. Chances are, Noah and Taka also noticed, since they're aware of the situation, but what about Dai and the others? Ryoko and Kara didn't really show any sort of indication one way or another, and neither did Dai. They were more concerned about Mickey's reaction to Spritemon's totally uncalled for behaviour. The only one who seemed aware of anything going on between Sam and Mickey was Matty, but I'm not sure if that was just general concern or if he suspects a blossoming romance. Matty could have just been worried about the state of Mickey's friendship with Sam...

There were so many questions, but with little to no answers, his mind was starting to resemble a revolving door. As a result, he figured the best thing to do was wait until an opportune moment presented itself, and having come to such a sensible decision, he concluded he might as well go and visit Shadow and the digimon to see how they were doing.

I'm sure they're still sleeping, but sometimes it's nice to have some company when you just need a quiet space for a little while.

Apparently he wasn't the only one who felt that way because upon entering the living room, Makku immediately halted in his tracks, his amber eyes coming to rest on the dark-haired boy who was curled up on the window seat with his arms wrapped gently around a snoozing Glimmermon. The young teen was gazing out the window at the night sky, and the faraway look on his face indicated he was deep in thought.

And that's my cue to take centre stage. Talk about perfect timing.

Recognising the fact that he had just been handed a golden opportunity to further enlighten himself on the inner workings of Sam's complex mind, he quietly moved across the room so as not to startle his cousin. At the raven-haired Digidestined's feet, Shadow, Gomamon, Iramon, Palelymon, Goldmon, Veemon, Penguinmon, DemiEmbermon, Gatomon, and Patamon were all fast asleep, giving him a good indication as to who still hadn't left the Motomiya residence yet. They all looked so cozy curled up together, and pausing to cross his arms over his chest, he raised his eyebrows and said lightly, "What are you doing here all by yourself? No offence to our digimon friends, of course."

Despite how careful he had been, Sam still jumped at the sudden words, and twisting around to blink at him, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "Oh, Makku. Sorry, I didn't realise you were there."

"How insulting! Especially since I'm your favourite cousin. And after all the work I put into my dramatic entrance!"

"Couldn't have been that dramatic," Sam said dryly, looking amused. "What are you up to? I thought you wanted to spend time with Shin."

Makku threw himself down on the window seat beside the raven-haired Digidestined, and pulling his feet up, he said easily, "As much as I can't bear the thought of being separated from the love of my life for very long, he's having a wonderfully animated conversation with T.K. and I don't want to interrupt. Eventually, he'll realise he misses me and come running. Until then, I will patiently wait for the inevitable shower of affection I'm likely to receive when the times comes. He can't resist me, after all."

For a moment Sam simply stared at him, and then letting out a soft laugh, the raven-haired Digidestined said warmly, "You really are something else."

"Which is exactly why I'm your favourite cousin."

Sam didn't even attempt to dispute that, which probably would have garnered a protest from Taka if the sandy-haired teen had been there to defend himself, and turning back to the window, the dark-haired boy said nonchalantly, "I never know if I should take you seriously or not."

"I'm always serious," Makku insisted, poking the younger teen lightly in the shoulder. "But you, my dear cousin, are not. You're going to ruin your good looks if you keep scrunching your face up like that."

"That's what you're concerned about?" Sam asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Sam, please. You're an Ichijouji. Your sister is a stunning beauty queen, you are a handsome little devil, and Nao is going to be a heartthrob when he grows up. Really, all three of you should take more pride in your gorgeous good looks. It's shameful to allow such a fabulous gene pool to go to waste."

"Now you're definitely not being serious," the raven-haired Digidestined responded, rolling his eyes.

Makku couldn't help but laugh, and stroking Glimmermon's soft head, he said mildly, "I'm being half serious. Don't sell yourself short, Sam. It's better to build yourself up rather than bring yourself down."

Trust me, it'll serve you well if you really do care about Mickey as much as I think you do.

A comfortable silence fell between them as Sam took a moment to seemingly process his words, and watching the younger boy, Makku was content to wait. After a moment, Sam finally stirred, and keeping his gaze averted, the raven-haired Digidestined said hesitantly, "Hey, Makku. Can I ask you something?"

The words were like music to his ears, and lounging on the window seat, he said easily, "You can ask me anything, dear cousin. I would think you should know that by now."

"What does it feel like?"

"What does what feel like? As much as I'd love to be a mind reader, alas I am not. You're going to have to elaborate a wee bit more."

"You know...what does it feel like being with Shinji?" Sam murmured, attempting to explain himself.

That's more like it. Now, how do I reassure him without causing further confusion...

Makku knew at this point he needed to tread lightly, and taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he said slowly, "How shall I put this? Meeting Shinji was like meeting an extension of myself. When you have that sort of connection with someone, you can't ignore it. It sticks inside your mind and it takes over your heart. At first, it's a little overwhelming, but once you've come to terms with how you feel, you never want to go back to how you were before."

"I assume Shinji feels the same?" Sam asked, his words coming out as barely more than a whisper.

"Oh, definitely. Don't let his reserved demeanour fool you. He's a total sap, and I love it."

"Must be nice."

There was something bittersweet about Sam's wistful tone, and placing an arm around the raven-haired Digidestined's shoulders, Makku said carefully, "Honestly, being with Shinji is one of the most amazing things that's ever happened to me in my life. Despite our differences in personalities, we're always on the same page. You know why? It's because we think alike, which is the most important thing. We're always in tune with how the other is feeling, and we know we'll always understand each other even when we disagree. Being with someone you love is like having a bestie and soulmate all in one person. It's like one level up from just a best friend, if that makes sense?"

"Yeah, it does," Sam replied, his lips finally turning up in a small smile. "It makes a lot of sense."

"Beautiful. See, you understand me perfectly, dear cousin. That's why we're so tight."

Sam laughed at that, and having dropped his guard, the raven-haired Digidestined proceeded to snuggle comfortably under his arm. Surprisingly, Glimmermon hadn't jolted awake due to the noise they were making, and unconsciously stroking the little rookie's soft head, Sam said quietly, "I definitely get why you and Shin work so well together, but...before getting to that point, how did you know he was the one? What made you so sure of it?"

That was an excellent question, and now that he had managed to break through the raven-haired Digidestined's defences somewhat, which indicated a growing level of trust, Makku was more than happy to answer. "Hmm...I'm not sure if that's something I can really explain. At least, not enough to do it proper justice."

"Try me."

"Well, it's like this. I just did. Although I didn't admit it to myself on the spot, from the moment Shinji first spoke to me, there was something stirring inside my heart that kept insisting he was the one. At first, it was on a subconscious level, but before I'd even realised it those feelings quickly surfaced on a conscious level."

"Your heart knew before you did," Sam finished, nodding to show he understood.

Well now, what a pleasant surprise. You never cease to amaze me, Sam. Maybe I spoke too soon when I was discussing your romantic prospects with Shinji and the others. While you may not yet be totally aware of your feelings, you're certainly not as clueless as our adorable Daichi. There's hope for you yet, dear cousin.

Doing his best to remain composed, despite the amusing thoughts floating through his head, Makku gently ruffled the younger boy's dark hair and said boldly, "Exactly. I'm sure it was the same for Noah and your sister, and there's no denying that was the case for Dai and Kara. Even Ami and Ryoko fit the bill, and if I'm not mistaken, poor Matty's already succumbed to Taniko's irresistible charms. Trust me, once you meet that special someone, you'll find out for yourself just exactly what it feels like."

"I hope so," Sam mumbled, the faraway look in the raven-haired Digidestined's sapphire eyes indicating he was once again growing lost in his own thoughts.

He's clearly thinking of Mickey, not that I blame him.

At this point, Sam appeared far more at ease with the subject of their conversation, and allowing the younger boy to rest wearily against his side, Makku took a moment to study his cousin's slender profile. Sam looked unusually tired, and though the moon was shining brightly through the window, the light didn't quite reach the raven-haired Digidestined's deep blue gaze. Clearly, the boy was conflicted, and sensing there was more, Makku said simply, "When I said you could ask me anything, I really did mean absolutely anything."

Any minute now...

The blunt statement appeared to catch Sam off guard, and ducking his head, the raven-haired Digidestined mumbled, "How...can you tell the difference?"

"You mean the difference between friendship and love?"

"Yeah...that," Sam whispered, blushing furiously before quickly turning his face away.

Right on cue.

It was a fair question, since obviously being attracted to the opposite sex made the distinction seem that much easier on a superficial level, but the reality was, gender didn't make a difference. The subtle nuances involved in the shared chemistry that was often the driving force behind two people falling in love was far different than the bond shared between souls who valued one another as close friends or family. They were equally important, and both had the ability to bring people together, but the distinction between affection for a friend and love for a partner was undeniably evident in the way the body reacted to each type of relationship. They were vastly different, which was a beautiful thing. And for Makku, he wasn't willing to give up either of the two.

No doubt Sam feels the same, which is probably one of the reasons why this is going to be so hard for him. How to explain it, though...

Thinking on the matter, Makku figured a blunt approach would have the desired effect, and wrapping both his arms around Sam's torso, he said, "You see, I love Noah dearly, more than I could ever put into words, but even then it's not the same as what I feel for Shinji. Don't get me wrong, Noah's a total sweetheart and I wouldn't want to live without him, but I'll be honest with you. I have absolutely no desire to kiss him. That goes for all the other guys I know, too, like Toma, Nobuo, and the boys from school. While I'm definitely fond of other men who are close to me, there's no attraction there. You've seen the way Noah and Miya behave towards each other, and we can throw Dai and Kara into the same boat. The looks, the smiles, the touches, the chemistry...That's how I feel when I'm with Shinji, which is far different from how I feel when I'm with Noah. Does that make it a bit more clear?"

"I think so," Sam replied, frowning as he slowly lifted his head. "Although...I'm not sure if it's exactly helpful..."

"Only you can answer that. I've given you as much as I can. The rest is up to you."

It was then that Sam finally looked at him, and as their eyes met, something seemed to click inside the raven-haired Digidestined's head, creating an interesting development.

We've reached the climax and now the grand finale. I wonder, how will you respond?

Instead of replying, the younger boy simply stared at him in shock, and knowing they had reached a point of mutual understanding, Makku simply waited, his expression remaining calm and composed. At first, nothing happened, and then in the span of a minute, Sam's facial features flashed through a multitude of emotions that the raven-haired boy had likely been holding in for quite some time. It was certainly a sight to behold, and hugging him fiercely around the neck, the younger teen whispered, "Thanks, Makku. You're the best."

"And don't you forget it," Makku teased, allowing Sam to indulge in the comfort and safety of his arms.

Mickey's a lucky guy to have captured your heart.

"I'm not crazy then, right?" Sam mumbled into his neck.

Makku quickly shook his head, and speaking in the raven-haired Digidestined's ear, he said firmly, "Absolutely not. If there's one thing I can tell you, it's this. You should never ignore what your heart tells you. No matter what happens, it will always steer you in the right direction, even if it seems as if you're lost. Stay true to yourself, and you'll be fine. Think you can manage that?"

"For Mickey, I can," Sam replied, the soft whisper just barely reaching a level where the words could be understood.

That was exactly what Makku wanted to hear, but before he could reply, the sound of light footsteps brushing against the carpet suddenly captured his attention. Looking up, he spotted Shinji standing in the doorway, and glancing almost imperceptibly at the young boy cuddled in his arms, the blond said calmly, "Pardon me, I didn't mean to interrupt."

Makku quickly shook his head, and as Sam slowly pulled away from him, he said cheerfully, "Oh no, you're doing nothing of the sort. I take it this means you're ready to leave?"

"Sorry about that," Shinji said, looking a tad guilty. "I hadn't actually meant to talk so long."

"Hard not to when T.K.'s so easy to get along with," Sam joked, his handsome features immediately rearranging themselves into a more neutral expression. "Can't blame you for that."

Makku felt inclined to agree, and leaping lightly to his feet, he quickly moved across the room to take Shinji's hand and said warmly, "Besides, the way you get so excited about your interests is so dreamy."

"And you're utterly embarrassing," Shinji scolded, though he didn't appear even the least bit annoyed at his partner's habit of engaging in playful banter. "Taka and the others should be coming down now at any moment. I believe Kari and T.K. are ready to leave, as well."

"I guess I should get ready then," Sam sighed, though judging from the raven-haired Digidestined's expression, leaving was the last thing he wanted to do.

It's because he doesn't want to be alone with Matty...

That in itself was another whole situation entirely, and recognising that now wasn't the best time to get into it, Makku simply wrapped his arms around his partner's waist and said in a teasing voice, "So, not only do you end up driving Toma and the others around in your car, now you're stuck carting my friends and family around, too."

"I had sort of anticipated that would happen already," Shinji said dryly, leaning down to kiss him gently on the cheek. "For you, though, I suppose it's worth it."

"See? Told you you're sweet and romantic."

"Keep talking like that and I'll refuse to let you go for the rest of the evening," Shinji threatened, holding him close.

Catching a quick glance at Sam over the blond's shoulder, Makku could see the raven-haired boy watching them with obvious interest, and smiling to himself, he said boldly, "In that case, I'll happily continue."

Whether or not Shinji intended to respond would forever remain a mystery because at that moment the sound of loud footsteps thundering down the stairs created enough chaos to wake the digimon snoozing near the window. There was a brief interlude of general confusion, and then lifting his head, Goldmon said groggily, "Who's making so much noise?"

The answer became apparent when Noah, Taka, Matty, and Mickey suddenly burst into the room, and looking blissfully unaware of what had transpired in the living room only moments ago, Taka said pleasantly, "Sorry for holding you up, Shin."

"It's fine. Although we'd better get going before your parents start to wonder where we are."

"You mean Mom will," Taka corrected, looking amused. "Dad's so chill it's almost mind-blowing."

Makku had to agree, and turning to address the group that had just entered the room, he said mildly, "Setting my loveable but somewhat exasperating father aside for the moment, where's our fearless leader and the rest of our merry band?"

"Dai's getting reamed out by Joe, so Ryoko and the others stayed behind to offer some moral support," Matty smirked before moving across the room to collect his digimon parter. "I almost want to stick around just to see how it all ends."

"Matty," Mickey scolded, sending the younger twin a disapproving look. "Don't be mean."

"I'm not! Even you have to admit he kind of deserves it. Always getting himself into trouble and all."

Scooping Palelymon into his arms, Mickey chose not to respond, and chancing at quick look at Sam, Makku didn't fail to notice the immediate change in the raven-haired boy's behaviour. As soon as the twins had entered the room, Sam's expression became much more guarded, and it was obvious the young teen was making an effort to keep his emotions in check. Not only that, Sam was also being very careful to keep his eyes averted, and laughing, Noah said, "Kind of hard to argue that."

"Are you kids giving Dai a rough time?" Kari asked, stepping into the room with Rina in her arms. "I think he's suffered enough for one evening."

"To be fair, we used to be pretty hard on Davis," T.K. joked, appearing suddenly behind his wife. "Isn't that right, Patamon?"

"Maybe," Patamon joked, fluttering across the room to land on his partner's head. "Gatomon most of all."

"I won't speak for Dai, but Davis definitely deserved it," the feline digimon grumbled, looking rather annoyed at being jolted out of a deep sleep.

T.K. laughed before motioning for Gatomon to join him, and turning to his son, the golden-haired Digidestined said, "Are you and Sam ready to go?"

"I am," Matty replied, stretching his arms above his head. "Seriously, there's a hot bath calling my name."

Holding Glimmermon tightly to his chest, Sam chanced a quick look at the younger twin before mumbling, "I guess so."

Hmm...the plot thickens. Does Matty suspect Sam might have feelings for his brother, or is it something else?

Nothing about the blond teen's behaviour suggested he felt suspicious, and turning his attention to Mickey, Makku could tell the older twin was having a difficult time taking his eyes off Sam. Clearly, Mickey believed his brother had an ulterior motive for asking the raven-haired Digidestined to stay the night at the Takaishi residence, and with good reason. Something was definitely up, and obviously the older twin suspected it had something to do with him.

Which explains why he's acting so nervous.

Sensing Mickey's intense gaze, Sam finally looked at the other boy, and attempting to smile, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "Make sure Dai doesn't do anything dumb tonight."

"I will," the older twin replied, pausing a moment before hesitantly moving closer. "But only if you promise to get some rest. You look exhausted."

"Same to you," Sam shot back, his expression softening into a look of concern. "Remember, you had a pretty close call yourself today."

"I know. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry."

"Just don't make it a habit," Sam teased, poking the older twin lightly in the chest. "One Dai is enough, thanks."

Look at them. They're ridiculously perfect for each other.

Now the two boys just needed to figure out the truth for themselves.

Somehow, Mickey managed a small smile, and reaching out to put his arms around his brother, Matty murmured, "Are you going to be okay without me tonight?"

Considering the younger twin's usual behaviour, it was a rather sweet thing to say, and melting at the undeniable affection in his brother's bright blue gaze, Mickey returned the hug and said gently, "I'll be fine, Matty. Take care of Sam for me, and make sure you get lots of sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Well...if you're sure."

"I'm sure," Mickey said softly, allowing his golden head to rest on the younger twin's shoulder. "Thank you, though. I always feel better knowing how much I mean to you."

Looking embarrassed, Matty whispered something in his brother's ear before quickly scurrying away, and shaking his head in amusement, Sam gave the older twin one last fond smile before following the Takaishi family out of the room. Gazing after the raven-haired Digidestined, it took a minute before Mickey came to his senses, and shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts, the older twin said, "I suppose I should bring Palelymon and the other digimon upstairs with me."

"Yeah, let's go see Dai!" DemiEmbermon demanded, hopping up and down on Shadow's back.

As usual, the dog seemed delighted to have so many friends to play with, and smiling at the older twin, Makku said, "I suppose that's our cue to head home. Sleep well, Mickey. I don't want my darling cousin to worry about you all night."

Mickey immediately blushed at his words, and smiling shyly at him, the older twin said, "I will. Night, Makku. Say hello to your parents for me."

"Naturally, especially since they adore you."

Ducking his head, Mickey quickly hurried out into the foyer with Shadow and the rest of the digimon in tow, and following after the older twin, the rest of the group bringing up the rear, Makku was greeted by Noriko and June, who had just stepped out of the kitchen. There was a series of goodbyes as Mickey disappeared upstairs, and allowing Sam and the Takaishi family to leave first, it was a moment before Makku was able to step through the door. Once outside, he was amused to find that he had somehow become the centre of attention, and as his own group headed for Shinji's vehicle, Taka turned to him and said curiously, "Were you just talking to Sam before we came into the room?"

"I'm assuming it was a pretty serious conversation?" Noah asked, raising his eyebrows.

Makku was walking between the dark-haired boy and his brother, and pausing on the sidewalk, he glanced over Taka's shoulder to smile at Shinji and said, "In some ways it was. I don't want to say too much without Sam's blessing, but...if I hesitated a little before, I'm not hesitating now. Let's just say I think Shin was right on the mark about Sam. I can't speak for Mickey, but I'm pretty confident about my cousin."

"So...in other words we should probably act like we know nothing until Sam can figure himself out or Mickey does...well, something," Taka finished, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. "Man, this whole being in love thing is super confusing."

"I second that," Noah laughed, ruffling the younger boy's head. "Just wait until it happens to you."

"Nobody's touching my baby brother until I say so," Makku interrupted, earning himself a look from Shinji. "As for Sam, that's probably for the best."

"And Nobu insists I'm overprotective," the blond teen said dryly, shaking his head. "Come on, all of you get in the car or you're walking home."

Saving his protests for later, Taka called shotgun before quickly scrambling into the front passenger seat, and conceding defeat, Makku was about to climb into the back with Noah before Shinji suddenly caught his arm, catching him by surprise. For a moment, the two of them gazed at each other, and then smiling fondly at him, Shinji said softly, "Knowing you, I'm sure Sam got exactly the advice he needed."

Which I could only give because of you.

The thought made Makku feel warm inside, and leaning forward to give his partner a quick kiss, he said gently, "Time will tell. Honestly, though, I do believe things will eventually work out between them."

"Like they did for you and I," Shinji agreed, giving his hand a quick squeeze before stepping back. "For the record, I still believe Mickey feels the same."

Makku pondered that for a moment while he waited for Shinji to get in and start the car, and watching him closely, Noah said, "What are you thinking?"

Isn't it obvious?

Turning to the dark-haired boy sitting beside him, he said lightly, "I think...it'll be interesting to see if Shin's right a second time."

Which would depend entirely on Makiya Takaishi.