Writing this fanfiction means one of many things.

1) I'm putting off my comic.

2) I'm putting off my LoZ: Link's Awakening game.

3) I'm going to be flamed.

4) I'm going to be worshipped.

5) I'm going to be raped by fans. (already happened XD)

6) I'm giong to love being a yaoi fangirl.

Personally, I like the thought of "all of the above." XD

Chapter 2: Matters become Complicated

Rufus batted at a hanging decoration left behind on the store shelves as Ian set up a step ladder to get to the higher lights near the cieling. Halloween was over, trick or treating ended hours ago, Jack was long gone, and Christmas was less than 10 Saturdays away. Which meant all shopkeepers of Gaia were going to be busy restocking, decorating, and preparing for Christmas and the Chirstmas event.

The sound of someone entering his normally quiet shop startled Ian. The shopkeeper squeaked, losing his balance and falling back off the ladder. A hard, strong body caught Ian before he could fall to the floor. He blinked and looked up. "O-oh...Hello Liam," Ian stuttered, standing out of the older male's hold. Ian dusted himself off. "What brings you here?"

Liam looked around the messy shop, new shipments still in boxes strewn about the front counter and a quarter of the store. "Sasha told me about your big find," Liam said with a grin. "You do realize what that's going to do for your business, don't you?"

"Uh...no..." Ian fixed the small leaf on his hat. "I don't."

The other shopkeeper grinned and put an arm around Ian's shoulders. "Do you realize just how many fangirls Gino has?"

Ian blinked, still not following what Liam was saying. "A lot?"

"And do you realize how many of the fangirls are going to swarm to you in adoration?"

The brunette peeled Liam's arm from his shoulders and gave him a stare. "Nice try, Liam, but none." Ian began to box the Halloween stuff, kicking the box of decorations behind the counter. He kept his pout from showing. "I'm about as invisible as an off-season outfit..."

A mischevious grin caught Liam's face. "Not to Sasha."

Ian nearly tripped over his own feet and almost dropped another box he was carrying. "R-really?" He stuttered, utterly amazed and shocked.

Liam nodded. "Sasha completly sees you in a whole new light after you rescued Gino from Gambino mansion. You're a hero now, and chicks dig heroes."

"A hero..." Ian didn't sound too sure of himself, even to, well, himself. I really don't feel any different, he thought. I don't feel any braver or stronger or adored by girls. Hell, I'm still single. And the person I do like probably secretly hates me...That's how my luck goes... The shopkeeper shook his head. "I'm not a hero...I just did what any other Gaian would do."

Rolling his eyes, Liam shook his head. "Well, since you're not interested in going shell-collecting with Sasha again..." He started to leave.

"Wait!" Liam faced a somewhat hopeful Ian. "I'm interested..." I think... "I'd love to go!" With Gino... "Maybe I'll be able to finally get to know more about her." Not. Ian was starting to hate his conscience. It never lied enough or at the right times.

Liam grinned. "Awesome! Since you're so busy, I'll go tell her."

"A-actually..." Ian rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Would it be okay if you closed shop for me? Th-that way I don't keep Sasha waiting or anything like that..."

"No problem at all!" Lian gave Ian's shoulder a pat. "Go get 'er, tiger!"

"Thanks again, Liam!" Ian exclaimed as he ran out the door.

Rufus hissed at Liam as his cheerful grin turned into a dark smirk. He pulled an old, golden pocketwatch from his pocket, tossed it in the air, then caught it again. This is too perfect, the shopkeeper thought. It's a good thing I found this the night Gambino mansion burnt down or I'd never have a plan of action. I'll plant this in Ian's shop, and once Gino finds out Ian's been keeping Johnny G.'s watch here, Gino will hate him for sure. Sasha too. Which will leave both open for the rebound.

Liam looked around for the perfect obvious-not-so-obvious place to put the Gambino heirloom. Someplace Ian would set something, then completly forget he put it there... His eyes fell on the cluttered front counter, where piles of paper work, mail, and, lo-and-behold, forgotten keys and wallet were left behind. Liam sweat-dropped slightly. I'm really not complaining, but again, too perfect.

After looking around to make sure he was alone, Liam set the pocketwatch under a stack of old mail and patted it reassuringly. "Now, hope that Rufus here does his curiosity-thing right and let the plan run from there." Liam assured himself. Casually, he shoved his hands in his pockets and closed up shop as promised.

Rufus glared at Liam's back. Frame Ian and think you'll get away with it, eh? The cat thought. He went to the stack of mail and grabbed the chain of the watch with his teeth. Not on my watch. Smiling to himself, Rufus took the back door out to Isle de Gambino.

Ian knew something was off when he found Sasha not at her house or store, but at the ruins of Gambino mansion. He hunched over a bit. Why do I have the distinct feeling Liam the Playboy tircked me...again? Oh, maybe because it seems like him to trick the loser, me, to get the girl, Sasha. Well... He sighed. Might as well go see why she's digging around in the debris.

He went to the young woman's side. "Hey...Sasha..." Ian rubbed the back of his head once more, watching her work. "What are you up to?"

She stood and wiped some sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "Oh, Ian. Thank goodness you're here. I need you to help me find Johnny Gambino's pocketwatch. Gino says he lost it in the fire and it has to be found quickly."

"Why?" Ian asked, blinking.

"I don't know! Just help me!"

Ian shrugged. "Okay."

"Pretty please with...wait..." Sasha ended her puppy-pout almost as soon as it hit her face. "You're helping?"

Again the male shrugged. "If it's for Gino, I don't see why not."

Sasha smiled. "I've already been through here. You check over there."

The storekeeper went to the indicated rubble and began digging. "How is Gino by the way?"

"Well." Sasha moved aside a boulder and inspected a locked jewlery box before tossing it aside as well. "A little frustrated with having to be in bed for a few weeks because of his legs, but other than that, he's recovering well."

"That's good." Ian made a face at a slime-covered rag and tossed it as far from himself as possible. "Any particular reason for the sudden scavenger hunt?"

Sasha shrugged. "Something about a bad dream about it being stolen and used to harm others." She sighed and sat down on a toppled column. "I don't understand what he means, but I'm sure its important, so I closed up shop and came here."

I've got a bad feeling about this, Ian thought. And something tells me Liam is involved. But...should I tell Sasha? I guess...I can give Liam the benefit of a doubt...just this once...but no more after this... Ian opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the sound of jingling bells at his feet. He looked down to see Rufus and..."The watch!" Sasha looked up as Ian picked up the cat and pried the chain from its teen. "Where'd you find this, Rufus?"

And in a tone only Ian heard, the cat said, "My Liamps are stealed until we get put in the store."

The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed in thought. So...it was Liam...I had a feeling he was up to his usual pranks... Ian set the cat on his shoulder. "Thanks Rufus," he petted the cat's head. "This means a lot to me. Sasha!" He waved the hand that held the watch at her. "Found it!"

"Take it to Gino!" Sasha told him. She made a face at herself. "I'm going to the shop to clean up before going back to work."

"Right!" Ian held the old watch close to his heart as he ran to Sasha's house. As always, her door was open for any who needed somewhere to go, or for visitors to stop by and rest. Ian ran up the stairs to Gino's room and entered without knocking.

Gino looked up from his book, still wearing nothing more than his bandages on his torso. A smile crossed the blonde's face. "Ian! You found my father's watch!" He sighed and held it close, smiling brightly. "I had a horrible nightmare...that Liam stole it from the debris of the mansion and used a web of lies to try to turn Gaia against you..."

Ian's smile faded a bit as he sat beside Gino, Rufus climbing off Ian's shoulder to lay on the blonde's lap. "Actually...I think Lian did try to do just that..." Gino's smile turned into a look of confusion. Ian continued speaking, "Liam came to my shop earlier and told me Sasha wanted to see me, but when I got here, Sasha was at the mansion ruins. Rufus brought the watch shortly after, so I think Liam planted it in my shop for someone else to find and make me look bad."

"That's a heavy accusation you're making," Gino said solemnly.

"It's the honest truth," Rufus purred. "Liam made the mistake of forgetting I can talk."

"This isn't good." Gino shook his head. "Why would he do such a thing? I thought Liam was a friend also...I didn't think he would do something like that..."

"I think he wants me out of the picture to get to Sasha..." Or you. "I would never have guessed he'd do such a thing." Yeah, I did. Saw it coming a mile away. "With any luck, it'll never happen again." Oh, it'll happen several times before this story's over with. Ian made a face at himself. Damn conscience. Why didn't it ever shut up?

Gino smiled. "I don't care about lies and deception. I trust you, and I trust my intuition. I know you won't betray me or my friendship."

"Thanks..." Ian blushed a bit. "It means a lot to me to hear you say that." Though I'd like to hear more...Something along the lines of "Can we date?" or "I like you a lot, let's make out."

"Ian..." The blonde's happy tone had fallen to an unsure whisper. "About...the other night...and...what was about to happen..."

"Yeah?" He hates me. He doesn't want to see me ever again. I disgust him. I'm going to die by Bucho.

"Can we..." His voice became soft. "Try again?" At this time, Rufus leapt off Gino's lap and onto the floor.

Ian smiled. "No problem at all."

He removed his hat and leaned close to Gino. The two smiled and closed their eyes together. Ian sighed to himself at their nearness, the scent of Gino's shampoo and cologne filling his lungs and soul. He felt Gino's sweet breath on his face as the blonde eagerly parted his lips a bit in an excited gasp. Ian's heart raced in his chest as he inched closer to the blonde teen and their first kiss. They were so close, Ian could almost taste Gino's lips.

"Gino! Ian! Are you guys here?"

Ian nearly face-faulted onto Gino. The blonde groaned in frustration. "Sasha..." Gino muttered. "Damn it...We were so close too...Her timing sticks."

"We still have a little time..." Ian winced at the sound of her approaching footsteps on the stairs. "Or...not..." He sighed and stood, putting his hat on.

"Third time's a charm?" Gino asked, smiling weakly.

"Yeah...I'll try again when Sasha's more preoccupied with something or another." Quickly, he placed a chaste kiss on Gino's forehead. "Later."

"Ian..." He laughed. "You kissed me!"

"I did?" Ian thought for a moment then laughed as well, rubbing the back of his head with embarrassment. "I guess I did!"

Sasha entered and blinked at the laughing young men. "Hey, what's so funny?"

"Nothing," Gino answered. "Just a private joke between Ian and I..."

The shopkeeper nodded in agreement. "Yeah...Don't worry about it, Sasha." He faced Gino. "I'll be back when work lets me, okay?" And get well soon."

"Thanks."

Smiling proudly, Ian left. And as he and Rufus walked home, the brunette did a small victory dance at the equally small victory over Liam.