Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Another chapter finished! This particular one has allowed me to flesh out a couple of the supporting characters, and as a result I should be able to finish up one of the subplots very soon. With one of the characters in particular from this chapter, I was hesitant to go forward with his character in this direction, which was why this character's background was left up in the air until now. But thanks to Miss. Anonymous hp, I went ahead with my original plan, since this was the way I had intended to portray this particular character all along. Thus, by not doing so, I would be doing this character an injustice by not presenting him the way he was always meant to be portrayed. I hope you enjoy!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 266: The Bonds of Friendship

Nobunari 'Noah' Kido

Odaiba, Japan, Earth

Nobunari Kido stood out on the balcony overlooking the front door of the Motomiya residence, and gazing up at the stars he allowed himself a small frown. Down below the streetlights were twinkling in the darkness of the night, and every so often a car would pass by, its headlights washing across the front lawn. The night was peaceful, and though he could see lights on across the street, there wasn't a single person walking along the road.

Behind him the house held a somber atmosphere, and it didn't take a genius to figure out why that was the case. Joe had emailed them earlier, informing them of what had happened to Dai, Ryoko, and Alopemon, and since then nobody had been in much of a mood to chat. Eventually Noah had gotten a bit tired of listening to his Aunt Noriko freaking out about Dai, and wanting some peace and quiet he had escaped to the balcony for a chance to be alone with his thoughts.

While he, too, was worried about Dai, he had a lot of faith in his cousin. He was sure that Dai would pull through, even more so with Ryoko by his side, but even so he still felt a bit guilty for allowing the situation with Miya to cloud his thoughts when he should have been worrying about his cousin.

Especially since it looks like the Spirit Chip they're looking for belongs to Ryoko. I have a feeling that's going to cause some major problems between him and Dai. And with the way they've acted towards each other lately, that's the last thing they need right now...

"Here you are!" a voice teased from the doorway. "I was wondering where you escaped to!"

Noah turned to see Makku silhouetted in the doorway from the light shining through the room onto the balcony, and shrugging his shoulders he shifted his gaze back to the view of the street and said, "Sorry, I just needed a bit of space."

"Understandable," Makku said pleasantly, sliding the door shut behind him as he stepped out onto the balcony. "I told Noriko to cool it before her blood pressure exploded and blew the house to pieces in a catastrophic mess. I don't think she appreciated my sentiment, though."

Noah raised his eyebrows, and without looking at the other boy, he smiled to himself and said, "I'm surprised you survived the encounter."

"Well, the glare she gave me nearly struck me dead on the spot, but that's nothing compared to the wrath Davis is going to feel when he gets back!" Makku joked, his tone dripping with amusement. "I thought I could use a little break from her myself."

"And leave her to her own devices?"

"Mina's got the situation under control," Makku said cheerfully, moving closer to join him at the railing.

They stood shoulder to shoulder, and glancing at the boy beside him, Noah could see Makku's glasses glinting in the darkness, his red hair glowing like the burning embers of a dying fire in the dim light. The two of them were the same height, and though Noah was slightly broader in the chest and shoulders, Makku was the one with the more commanding presence. His personality was often as vibrant as his hair, and he had a way of drawing you in with his friendly eyes and teasing smile. In the darkness his amber gaze glittered with an expression that Noah couldn't immediately identify, and watching the red-haired boy he felt himself relax a little.

Maybe I'm over thinking things...

Makku rested his arms on the railing, and letting out a soft sigh, Noah did the same. "Who's still here?"

"Other than Izzy and Mina, all the adults have gone home," Makku replied, without turning to look at him. "Izzy's still on the computer, and Mina's looking after Noriko in the kitchen. As for the rest of us kids, I think the girls have all gone to bed. Taka and the other guys are in Dai's room playing video games, mostly to distract themselves, I think."

Noah nodded, and going silent he continued to gaze out at the empty street, his mind swirling in confusion.

"Still thinking about Miya?" Makku asked, his words breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Noah gave a start, and glancing at the other boy in surprise, he said, "How did you know?"

"I'm good at that sort of thing," Makku teased, a faint smile turning up the corners of his mouth.

Noah nodded, and turning his face away, he said, "Does that make me a bad person?"

"Of course not. You're worried about Dai and Ryoko too, aren't you?"

"Well yeah. How can I not be?"

"Then how can you be a bad person?" Makku said easily, shaking his head in amusement. "And considering how long this thing with Miya has been going on, I can't blame you for dwelling on it."

Noah folded his hands together, and shaking his head, he said, "But Dai and Ryoko could be in danger. That's way more important than my problems with Miya..."

"So you feel guilty," Makku said simply, nudging him gently in the elbow. "I think that speaks for itself, doesn't it?"

"It does?"

"A bad person wouldn't feel any guilt or remorse."

Noah was silent for a moment, and glancing quickly at the boy beside him, he found himself growing curious. There was something different about Makku tonight. At first, he hadn't noticed it, since Makku had come onto the balcony cracking jokes about Noriko, but now that the conversation had taken a more serious turn he was able to pick up on the subtle change in the other boy's behaviour. And all of a sudden the look in Makku's eyes was starting to make him feel a little concerned. The red-haired boy's amber gaze was intense, and there was a seriousness to the look in his eyes that Noah had never seen before. It was strange to see Makku acting so out of the ordinary, and it piqued his interest.

I wonder why he seems so different tonight...

In his heart, he knew Makku wasn't really acting all that different. This was just one side of the other boy's personality that he had not yet had an opportunity to witness. And now that the opportunity was upon him, he was curious to see where this conversation would take them.

I feel like he's waiting for something. I wonder what it could be.

"This situation with Dai, Ryoko, and Alopemon...there's nothing you can do for them," Makku said calmly, his amber gaze focusing on the street lamps down below. "As much as it might hurt to admit it, whatever happens to them is completely out of our control. We have to put our faith in Tai and the others because they're the ones who can do something about it. We have to believe that they'll be able to fix the situation."

Noah nodded, and letting out a deep sigh, he said, "I know, but..."

"It doesn't mean you can't still be worried about them," Makku interrupted, giving him that familiar teasing smile again. "But what's the sense of wasting your energy on something that's out of your control? You might as well direct that energy towards something you can take control of, and that would be this whole thing with Miya. If you can fix that, it will give you one less thing to worry about, and it would make Dai happy to know you're happy."

"Which would give him one less thing to worry about, right?"

"Exactly," Makku agreed, resting his chin in his hands as he leaned on the railing. "Keep sending your positive thoughts to Dai, but focus most of your attention on Miya. Once you have the situation with her under control, there will be nothing for you to feel guilty about. After that, by all means you can worry about Dai, Ryoko, and Alopemon as much as you please, and all the others too for that matter. Just keep your head on straight and don't let your fears overwhelm you."

Noah turned his head slightly to look at his friend, and smiling, he said, "You're just full of surprises, aren't you."

"Does that surprise you?" Makku asked, returning the smile.

Noah had to laugh, and nudging the other boy in the shoulder, he said lightly, "Since you seem to have all the answers, maybe you can help me out a bit then."

Makku's expression suddenly grew serious again, and looking lost in thought, he said, "I can try, but...I can't guarantee my efforts will be beneficial to you."

Noah nodded, and letting out another deep sigh, he said, "I don't know what to do. Every time I try to approach Miya about the issue, something always happens. I'm going to lose count of how many times I've been interrupted if this keeps up."

"You're trying too hard for one thing," Makku scolded, giving him a knowing look. "This isn't really the type of thing you can plan. Plus, it has a lot more impact if you do it as a spur of the moment thing. The best way to do it is to wing it and let things happen naturally. It won't seem forced that way, and you'll be more likely to say what you really want to say instead of screwing it up. Don't waste so much time looking for the right moment. It'll happen on its own, and when it does you have to jump on it if you don't want the opportunity to pass you by."

Noah blinked in surprise, and hunching his shoulders to ward off the chill of the night, he said slowly, "You sound like you've done this sort of thing before."

Makku shook his head, and looking amused, he said, "No, I can't say that I have. Although if that were true I'm sure it would be a spectacular moment to remember."

"I bet," Noah said dryly, allowing himself a small smile. "But the way you talk...it sounds as if you've had a girlfriend before?"

Makku was silent for a moment, and shrugging his shoulders, he said softly, "No, I haven't."

Something about his tone seemed out-of-place, and feeling suddenly embarrassed, Noah put a hand on Makku's shoulder and said quickly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. It's really none of my business after all. I just thought..."

"It's fine," Makku said easily, waving off his apology with an amused smile. "If we're going to be best friends, we should be able to talk about stuff like this, right? It's just part of getting to know each other. I don't mind questions. I welcome them."

Makku's tone was sincere, and Noah was quick to note that the red-haired boy didn't step away from him, which was a good sign that Makku hadn't taken offense to his probing question. Even though he still felt a little embarrassed for prying, the atmosphere between them hadn't changed, and he let himself relax against the railing again. Makku did the same, and Noah could see the chilly breeze ruffling the other boy's fiery hair. He knew he was staring, and though he was pretty sure Makku was aware of his gaze, the red-haired boy took no notice of it. Instead, he continued to gaze at the street lamps down below, his amber eyes reflecting their dim glow.

Huh, I wonder what he's hiding from me.

Noah continued to study the other boy with interest, and resting his chin in his hand, he said, "Really?"

Makku shrugged his shoulders, and running a hand through his fiery tresses, he said, "I have nothing to hide...and I would hope that you don't either."

Noah closed his eyes, and letting the wind ruffle his dark hair, he smiled into the darkness. "No, I don't."

"Then to answer your question fully, I've never had a girlfriend before," Makku said slowly, his pleasant tone drifting into Noah's ears. "I've just always been the type to observe and listen to the people around me. You learn a lot about people if you take the time to watch and understand them. And once you've done so, you learn a few things here and there."

"Is that what you did with me?"

There was a pause, and then Makku's warm voice shattered the silence. "You have to be thorough when choosing a new best friend."

Or in other words Makku had spent a lot of time observing him for quite some time. More so than he would probably ever know.

Maybe for years...

The sincerity behind Makku's words left Noah speechless for a moment, and when he didn't respond, the red-haired boy said, "Unless I've missed something over the years, Miya would be your first girlfriend if she agrees to date you?"

That sentence alone proved that Makku had kept an eye on him over the years, and for whatever reason he felt suddenly warm inside.

How did I not notice?

Noah opened his own eyes, and clearing his throat, he said, "Yeah, she...even as kids I couldn't take my eyes off her. She's just...amazing in every way. I don't know what I would have done without her all these years."

"Then you need to make it happen," Makku insisted, poking him gently in the shoulder. "I know my cousin well, and I know how much she cares about you. That's not the issue here. The two of you just need to stop running circles around each other. Let the moment come to you and tell her how you feel. There's no doubt in my mind she'll respond the way you're hoping she will."

The words were comforting, and Noah suddenly found himself standing a little taller. Did Miya truly feel the same? Makku seemed confident that she did, and Noah trusted the other boy's judgment. How could he not when Makku had yet to prove himself wrong on anything thus far?

Well, there's only one way to find out.

"Don't seek her out," Makku insisted, looking away from him. "Let Miya come to you, and when she does take her hand and tell her how you really feel. The rest will happen naturally, and you will see just how much she returns your feelings."

It was simple, logical, and it made more sense than anything else so far in Noah's life. All of a sudden the picture was so clear to him, and it was all thanks to Makku.

It was so unexpected, and yet it can't just be a coincidence that he dropped into my life at this moment when there were plenty of opportunities for him to do so in the past. Miya and Makku. It seems I'll never be free of this spell the Inoue family has placed upon me, and funny enough I never want to be free of it. Has there ever been anybody out there as lucky as I am?

"What are you thinking about?" Makku said cheerfully, a teasing look in his eyes.

Noah felt himself blush, and shaking his head, he said quickly, "Nothing."

It really is like he can read my mind sometimes...

"That's a pretty intense reaction for it to be nothing," Makku joked, laughing softly. "But I'll let it slide this time."

Noah moved to face Makku, and placing both hands on his friend's shoulders, which forced Makku to turn away from the railing, he smiled at the red-haired boy and said softly, "Thank you, by the way."

"You don't have to thank me," Makku insisted, suddenly avoiding his eyes. "That's what friends are for."

Noah frowned, and keeping a firm grip on Makku's shoulder, he studied the other boy with obvious concern. He was surprised to discover that the closer he tried to study Makku's face, the more the other boy would attempt to avoid his gaze. That was not normal behaviour for Makku, and Noah had to admit it was starting to upset him a little. On anyone else, he wouldn't have given this type of behaviour a second thought, but on this particular boy it was worth taking notice of. Makku wasn't the type to turn away from a confrontation, and he wasn't the type to avoid the eyes of a fellow human being either. This behaviour did not suit him at all, and Noah wanted some answers.

It all started when I mentioned the thing about having a girlfriend...I wonder...

Noah stepped back from his friend to give the other boy some space, and turning back to the street he purposely kept his gaze focused on the road below. He felt Makku once again lean on the railing beside him, and standing shoulder to shoulder, Noah could feel the heat from Makku's body soaking into his arm. It kept the chill of the night air at bay, and though Makku didn't attempt to move away from him, Noah could sense a slight hesitation in his friend's posture. Never before had he ever experienced that sort of behaviour from Makku before, and it made him feel like the red-haired boy was unsure of himself. Noah didn't like that sort of feeling coming from his friend at all, and refusing to budge from where he stood, he said calmly, "You seem awfully quiet tonight. That's not like you at all."

What are you not telling me?

"I can keep my mouth shut once in a while," Makku said easily, stretching his arms and scratching the back of his head.

I will find out.

Noah smiled, unwilling to give up so easily, and being careful of his words, he said slowly, "You know, I'm surprised you don't have a girlfriend."

"Why's that?" Makku asked, sounding only mildly interested.

The red-haired boy's eyes didn't shift from the street, but Noah could tell he seemed suddenly more alert and that his apparent nonchalance might not be as sincere as it appeared on the surface.

"Well, I mean...look at you. You're a good-looking guy, no question about it, but more importantly you have the kind of personality people find hard to ignore. I can definitely attest to that. I don't see how any girl would be able to resist you."

"I'm not that great, really," Makku laughed, shaking his head.

Noah hadn't complimented the other boy just to butter him up. What he had said was true, and though Makku seemed a little surprised by the sentiment, it didn't appear to embarrass him or make him uncomfortable. But it had unintentionally brought out what seemed to be a softer side of the red-haired boy, and the seemingly neutral expression on his face was replaced with a fond smile.

Makku had previously talked about opportunities and taking advantage of them when they presented an opening to do so. Noah had a strong feeling that this was an opportunity for him to cement his friendship with this red-haired youth, and because of that he could not ignore the sensation that he was on the brink of something that would truly test the strength of his heart. And however he responded, that would decide the fate of their future.

A future that would see them together, or not.

"But the way you are, the way you act towards them...it doesn't make sense to me. They should be falling all over you."

"Because I treat them with the respect they deserve, as any man should?" Makku countered, his amber gaze focusing on the houses across the street. "It's not their fault, and it's not for lack of trying either."

Makku's voice had grown very soft at the end of his outburst, and there was a fondness to his tone that caught Noah off guard. This was a man who truly respected women, and yet he did not have someone like Miya to stand by his side.

"What does that mean?"

"If you hadn't noticed, I treat everyone that way," Makku replied, shrugging his shoulders. "That's just who I am."

While that was indeed true, Noah knew there was more to the story than that.

"Of course I noticed. That's not the issue here."

"There's an issue?" Makku teased, still not looking at him.

Noah leaned towards the other boy, and keeping his face close to Makku's ear, he said in a low voice, "What do you really mean?"

"I'm gay," Makku said simply, the ghost of a smile slipping across his face. "So you see, it's not their fault if they have nothing to show for their efforts, though I do appreciate the sentiment."

Makku's gaze did not waver, and he did not move an inch from his spot. Noah had expected to feel the other boy's body tense up, but instead Makku remained calm and relaxed.

This sudden revelation should have caught Noah off guard, and yet he wasn't as surprised as perhaps he should have been.

Or perhaps as one would have expected him to be.

Instead, he felt calm and comfortable inside, and lifting his head he proceeded to gaze up at the dark sky, his expression growing thoughtful.

This was the first major turning point in their friendship, and Noah was sure it wouldn't be the last. Friends often continued to surprise you, even when you were convinced you had learned everything you could about them.

But that was the beauty of friendship. There was always something new to learn.

Standing there in that moment, Noah knew there were two options he could accept. He could either step away from Makku, turn his back on the other boy, and walk away as some might have done, or he could remain exactly where he was, enjoying the night sky.

Noah chose the latter option.

Why?

For him there was only one option, and there was never a doubt in his mind that he would accept any other outcome.

The best kind of friends are the ones who continue to amaze and inspire you, and they're the ones who continue to surprise you with the unexpected.

Noah stuck his hands in his armpits to keep them warm, and shifting slightly he did not break the physical contact he shared with his friend on the balcony. Makku didn't move either, and Noah smiled as he felt a sense of understanding pass between them. "So this is what you were waiting to tell me."

Makku finally glanced at him, and raising his eyebrows, the red-head said calmly, "You knew?"

"No, but I suspected when you came out here tonight that you had something on your mind."

"I don't have any secrets," Makku said quietly, repeating his words from earlier. "There's nothing I want to hide from you."

Noah turned to look directly at the red-haired boy, and studying Makku's face, he sad softly, "Your old best friend, he knew?"

"Akira?" Makku asked, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "He knew."

"Did he...treat you badly?"

"Not exactly. We used to be really close, and we were for many years. When I finally worked up the courage to tell him the truth, he never treated me in a disrespectful manner, but things were never really quite the same between us again."

Noah felt a stab of regret in his heart, and nodding, he said calmly, "How so?"

"He grew distant from me," Makku said slowly, his amber eyes growing dark at the memory. "And there were times when I could tell he felt uncomfortable around me, though he never said so in words. When his family moved away about a year ago now, it didn't surprise me that he never bothered to keep in touch. I suppose it was easier that way. He spared me the worst of it, so in that he has my respect."

Perhaps this Akira had Makku's respect, but the thought of this ignorant and foolish boy made Noah's heart smolder with anger. That anybody would ever willingly give up the friendship of this free-spirited youth did not sit well with him at all, and it gave him an overwhelming sensation of wanting to protect his friend.

"I can't imagine how hard that would have been for you."

Makku let out a sigh of his own, and shrugging his shoulders, he said, "You can't dwell on the past forever."

And somehow, despite his words, Makku was still able to smile. It touched Noah's heart in a way he never thought would be possible, and the amount of respect he felt for this red-haired boy at that moment almost overwhelmed him. Though he hadn't said it in words, Makku had lone ago forgiven this Akira for abandoning their friendship, and that alone proved the strength of Makku's character. This boy was a shining example of the potential that could define humanity, if they only chose to follow the path of forgiveness and understanding. It humbled Noah, and it made him feel ashamed of his own burst of anger.

Sometimes you have to let go and focus on what really matters.

Noah kept his dark gaze on the red-haired boy, and hesitantly, he said, "Would you mind if I asked you something? I'm pretty sure this isn't the case for you, but at the same time I don't want to misinterpret either. Sometimes it's better just to ask."

Makku finally looked him directly in the eyes, and there was no hesitation in his amber gaze or his voice when he spoke. "You can ask me anything."

"Did you ever have feelings for this Akira?"

Makku shook his head, and smiling softly, he said, "No, it was nothing like that. I was spared that much at least. I only ever saw him as a friend. An old friend I thought I could trust. I don't really blame him, though. Having to accept change is not an easy thing for most people to do."

Noah turned to gaze at the sky again, and speaking quietly, he did not avoid the truth, nor did he avoid the word. "How many people actually know you're gay?"

"My immediate family and my extended family," Makku said easily, shrugging his shoulders. "And then there was Akira, and now you."

"So Miya, Sam, and your bother all know, along with your other cousins and your aunts and uncles?"

"Of course they do," Makku teased. "Like I said, all of my extended family knows."

Noah nodded, and shaking his head in amusement, he said, "Sam never mentioned anything, and neither did Miya."

"Well of course they didn't," Makku laughed, looking amused. "Miya loves everybody, and Sam is Sam. Something like this isn't a big deal to them. They probably wouldn't even think to mention it. My family has always been pretty cool like that. And they've always been very accepting of those who are different from them, my parents included. When I told my dad, he just shrugged his shoulders and asked if I wanted more chips."

Noah blinked in surprise, and then he promptly burst into laughter. That was so like Mantarou Inoue that he really shouldn't have been surprised at all.

"My mother just hugged me and told me she was proud of me, and Taka..."

"What did Taka say?" Noah asked, encouraging his friend to continue.

Makku smiled fondly at the memory, and folding his hands together to keep them warm, he said softly, "So? You're still my brother. Why should I care about any of that? That's what Taka said."

Noah had to smile. It was so like Taka to stand up for Makku. As far as he was concerned, that was a boy who should have been a Digidestined.

"It's not like I'm shy about it," Makku continued, keeping his gaze focused on the railing. "While I might not broadcast it to everybody within hearing distance, I'm not afraid to admit it if somebody asks. I've just never felt the need to bring it up when it isn't relative to the conversation."

"You mean like the way it is now?"

"What do you think?" Makku asked, giving him a small smile. "The rest of my family was supportive too. And I..."

Noah allowed himself a moment to stretch, and growing thoughtful, he said, "When you chose me to be your best friend, that wasn't a spontaneous decision."

"No, it wasn't," Makku agreed, his voice growing quiet.

"And I think...even when you were still friends with Akira, you always had an interest in me. You would have wanted me in your circle of friends even if Akira had never moved away and lost contact with you. You were observing me even then, and when Akira left your interest in getting to know me grew even more. Once Akira was gone, you were waiting a whole year to find the courage to approach me at the right moment. You planned the whole thing all along, didn't you. And when the moment came you took advantage of it, just like you've been telling me to do with Miya. "

"Something like that, yes," Makku replied, without looking at him.

Noah refused to look away from the other boy, and speaking quietly, he said, "I admire your patience. That must have been a lonely year for you. I understand what you meant about opportunities, but it must have been hard for you to watch me laughing and joking with my friends, and wanting to be a part of that. How were able to make yourself stay away for so long?"

"After losing Akira, I lost a little of my faith in the people at school," Makku said quietly, a rare spark of pain flashing in his amber eyes. "I needed to believe that others could fully accept me for who I am, and that those who could accept me wouldn't just be my family members alone. When I saw you at school with your friends or during those brief times when we met coming and going from Miya's house or whatever...you seemed different from Akira or those who are like him at school. But I needed to be sure. So I watched you, and I spent a lot of time observing your behaviour. And the more I learned about you..."

"The more you started to believe that I was someone who wouldn't turn my back on you," Noah finished, his heart swelling with sudden emotion.

"Miya used to talk about you with me all the time," Makku said, his voice now barely above a whisper in the darkness. "She still does actually, and after everything I learned about you I wanted to give it a chance. Because anybody who could love Miya so deeply and see the true value of her worth had to be a good person. I was willing to risk everything on that, and that's why..."

That's why you risked enduring a possible similar situation, or worse, to what happened with Akira. Because you believed in me. You believed that I could be the friend who would always be there to support you...

Noah didn't hesitate. Turning he pulled Makku into a tight grip, and he felt the other boy crumple against him. Makku had done a fantastic job of keeping his compose up until this point, but now Noah could feel the red-haired boy trembling in his arms. It was a tough lesson to learn, but it made Noah realize that even the most carefree of humans still have their fair share of troubles, and their hearts could still be battered by the blows of those who sought to hurt them.

And I'm not going to be one of those people. With the kind of family and friends I have, nobody knows the value of friendship better than I do.

There were no tears, and it wasn't a huge dramatic production of any kind, but even so Noah didn't let go. After some time he felt Makku return the gesture, and after several deep breaths the red-haired boy appeared to regain control of his composure again.

"Isn't this a sight to behold," Makku joked, the words coming out slightly muffled by the shoulder that was blocking his charming voice. "I think my pride has just suffered a major blow today."

"It'll be good for your ego," Noah joked, smiling against Makku's shoulder in amusement.

He felt the red-haired boy hit him lightly on the back, and sounding just a tad offended, he said, "My ego is perfectly wonderful, thank you very much!"

"Somebody sure is confident!"

There was a pause, and then Makku said quietly in his ear, "And in case you were wondering, there isn't anybody I'm interested in at the moment. If there was, I would tell you. I'd tell you anything without holding back."

Noah wasn't normally the type to use any kind of bad language, since his father was a doctor with a professional bedside manner, and his mother was deadly with a bar of soap, but since neither one of them was around he didn't think a small word when the occasion warranted it would earn him too much of a scolding.

Tightening his hold on Makku, he said with feeling in the other boy's ear, "When you do find somebody...Whoever he is, he'll be one hell of a lucky man."

And that was the truth, no question about it.

Noah felt Makku smile against his shoulder, and after a moment of silence they slowly pulled apart.

As they stared at each other, Noah said firmly, "I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," Makku replied, giving him a warm smile and tugging gently on his arm. "Let's get back inside. I'm starting to freeze to death out here!"

Noah couldn't agree more, and wrapping his arms around himself he proceeded to step back into the house, Makku shivering by his side.

As they slid the door shut behind them, Makku caught his arm again and said softly, "Remember, let Miya come to you. She'll let you know when she's ready."

Noah nodded, and together they went to join Taka and the other boys, leaving the darkness of the night behind.