Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ian watched as Gambino walked away with Mothership and their energy drinks. He was still a bit in shock as Sasha had so thoughtlessly spurned him. He gave no thought to the unusual silence of Gino. He was too far into his own pain and his eyes went shady again. Everyone was starting to leave so he figured he might as well head home too but for what? to be alone? rufus was already taking care of the shop so where exactly was it he should go, where did he belong? Wrapping his arms around himself he walked to Bass'ken Lake and just stared into the night reflective water losing himself completely in his private thoughts.

An hour later Gino found Ian still there as if his feet had grown roots and with an expression of total resignation on his worn face. Gino, despite his own pain felt his compassion rise for the man but did not stop to talk. He got the impression that Ian needed to be alone and he felt scared he would intrude. With a guilty conscience he forced himself to just walk away. A few minutes later he smiled having an idea and headed to the Bar and Grill. They might be able to help where he could not. Upon knocking on the door he heard a lot of noise inside as if a spirited conversation was taking place. Spurred on by curiosity Gino softly pressed his ear up to the cold door so he could listen better but before he could the door opened causing an embarassed blush to spread across his face.

Bob opened the door to a Gino out there in the cold. "Why look who it is girls, its Gino. Come in come in you'll catch a cold if you stay out there too long" He led Gino inside where "Run Run rudolph" was playing in the background and the Ianites were scattered about either talking or some other form of entertainment. He offered Gino a seat and some hot chocolate only to be refused.

"I cant stay long I only wanted to let you guys know about ian, I saw him by the lake and . . .well. . .I-im really worried about him. I've never seen him look like that before." Gino looked downward a bit shyly and paused not knowing what else to say. After an awkward silence he said hurried goodbyes to ians girls and went to the familiar comfort of his own home. He felt rude in leaving so fast however he was spurned too needing some time to figure things out.

In stereo the Ianites all shouted "Ian is in trouble, we MUST help him!" but a few voices of logic spoke. RinaLee, Youko, Saichen, and Bob decided that only they would be the ones to go. "All of you, we admire your loyalty to our Ian however if we all go to help him it might be too much for him right now. The fewer people the better." Bob indicated that he also would stay behind, though he strongly wished to go and help he also knew they were right and there might be other chances for him to be near Ian. Relocking the door behind the girls he forced a smile back onto his face and with Shane and Masshiro's help distracted the others with twister and steaming salmon cakes newly taken from the oven.

Gino continued to walk back to his mansion, all alone. He was so wrapped up in his own misery he did not notice the menacing shadow that followed him and watched every move Gino made. Gino stared at Sasha's shop for a while until he realized it had started to softly snow. A soft hush fell over the place as the snow started to accumilate on the ground before him. He sighed and turned to walk up the familiar mansion steps when he was tackled by a dark figure. Both rolled a few feet back due to the force of it and on blinking his frightened eyes Gino found himself staring up at an almost mirror copy of himself however his attacker had a waterfall of midnight locks gracing his cruel face. "W-who are you? . . .get off of me!"

Vino delighted in the poor blond boys struggles. They were weak at best and it was truly easy to overcome the aristocrat. He was nothing at all like his father, Gambino. it was spoiled brats like him that made them completely defenseless when they were being mugged, more so if they were so stupid as to not have a bodyguard. He peered down with an almost sickening infected smile. His silken locks hanging down and itching Gino's face. With a practiced hand he slid his thieving hand down the blondes side almost in a affectionate caress, unhooked a leather strap releasing a rather large. . . wallet full of gold. Holding up his easily won prize he shoved Gino so carelessly away and chuckled darkly as he made good his escape.
"A fool and his money are soon parted"

Gino sat up, his heart racing and his breath coming out in short gasps. Who was that man and why did he look so much like him? was it more of fathers secrets? The fact pulled him out of his fear and his annoyance at his father grew. What had his father done now? and what would it cost him this time? He gritted his teeth and looked to the side making an angry fist, the strange mans touch still burning its memory upon his soft skin. (Cont in chap two)

Things were winding down at the Ian bar and grill and most of the members had already gone up to bed. Bob cleaned up the place with Masshiro and Darth Taco, who was visiting from the Gino Harem. After they had finished Bob stepped outside for a cigarette knowing most of the members disapproved of his nicotine addiction. He pulled his coat closer as the snow made things much more cold. He took a long pull on his smoke and exhaled it into small rings as Gino again came up towards the place. Trying to be polite Bob held the cigarette downwind of gino as the blond haired man tried to mask a very obvious wrinkling of the nose. "So what may I do for you, Gino?" Said Bob.

Gino tried to smooth his frazzled nerves and took a breath to calm down. Though the doppleganger had scared him he was raised by his fathers strict hand never to betray what you really felt inside. "I-I think I was mugged" He said with humiliation and looked away ashamed of appearing weak in front of anyone. What bothered Gino most of all was the mans intrusive touch. He was never attracted to anyone aside from sasha and feeling this confusion about a man seemed wrong somehow but how was he to ever admit that when the thief had attacked him he had wanted nothing more than to submit to him.

Bob read a tangled string of emotions on Gino's face and after flicking his cigarette away brought him inside where Darth had a heart attack on seeing the object of her adoration. When she had recovered herself she brought Gino a mug of Mayan hot chocolate and a blanket. Gino began to recount his story of having his gold stolen deliberately leaving out how his heart just might have been stolen as well. He would not have been able to live with disappointing his harem like that. It seemed that without realizing it both Bob and Gino shared that in common.

Nothing had to be said but a silent understanding had passed between Gino and Bob. "Let me walk you home" Offered Bob as his current apperance was enough to unsettle the nerves of anyone that even thought of attacking Gino again. Gino accepted knowing Bob would never do anything to hurt him. They walked in silence for a while until they reached the lake. The thief that had stolen Gino's wallet had apparently been detained by Saichen, Rinalee and Youko. Vino was now tied to a tree trunk and the girls comforting a still confused Ian.

They looked equally as confused as they looked back and forth between Vino and Gino trying to figure out just what was going on. Why did this guy look so much like Gino? Gino was the one who broke the silence first. "Hey! thats the guy who mugged me" He exclaimed then looked hurriedly downward to mask a deep crimson blush. Luckily as it was dark noone noticed so for the time being Gino's secret was safe. Bob asked the girls to help Ian home and put him to bed as he seemed to show signs of a fever. As they left Gino noticed the muted desire in Bob's eyes as he watched them leave.

His face seemed so unguarded and vunerable. Seeing him this way made any fears about him dissipate. Does it hurt every time you have to say goodbye? Every time you watch him find happiness with someone else? Gino thought in his head. He could never ask these question outloud, he was too well bred to meddle in other peoples affairs. As Bob was momentarily distracted Vino escaped the ropes with his thief skills and confronted Gino once more. Gino gasped in surprise as he felt the velvet of lips touch butterfly soft upon the palm of his hand. His body shivered uncontrollably as the violet orbs on his face widened and became as deep purple of the ocean pulling Vino into the maeltrom of lust. Vino felt himself being drawn closer and closer still finding himself barely breathing unable to recover his scattered senses.

Their lips a mere half inch apart and their eyes locked, staring deep into each others eyes. It was as if they were transfixed into some sort of fairy reverie. Like two roses turning toward eachothers sunlight. A few more precious seconds and there lips would be touching. Bob chose to turn at this moment and seeing Gino once again about to be victimized dove at Vino. Grabbing the cloth of his cream colored shirt bob aimed a left handed punch at Vino. A pure rage in his eye not out of anger but more out of frustration over what he knew would never be.
Before the punch could connect however a soft whispered voice reached him. "Bob, no"

Bob turned still holding Vino's shirt and threw a questioned look, confused as to why Gino would want him to stop. In Gino's eyes were all the emotions, all the things he had to hide from others that Bob himself was currently struggling through. He could never be with Ian but at least Gino could find some happiness. In that moment all was made clear and Bob knew how Gino felt just as Gino knew what Bob felt. Forcing himself to calm down and let his heartache dull Bob asked "Do you still want me to walk you home?" Gino nodded and Bob started walking away with Gino. Lighting up a smoke he politely held it downwind of Gino. "You know you really shouldnt smoke those things, they'll kill you" Said Gino as both of them laughed as they walked away.

Vino watched them leave and cursed Bob for ruining the moment, he had been so close in pilching that expensive looking G pin and now he would have to bide his time until he could get close to Gino again. He would have to be a bit more careful in the future however and try not to get so lost in those oceanic eyes of Gino's. Gino was more dangerous than before having perhaps stolen something Vino doubted he even had. Climbing over a wall Vino himself headed for home having a bet to cash in on. At the top of the wall he turned and took one last glance toward Gino's direction before climbing down the other side. "I will taste those lips one day"