Wow...That previous chapter was done in one day. I was bored during work. I struggled through about half of it, though. I feel kinda bad for making Liam such a bad guy, but it seems to fit. Sorry for the delayed posting, but I will not be quitting this fanfic until it is finished. BTW, I may have a LIG threesome coming up within the next few chapters. Yeah...this chapter is me dealing with my pent-up frustration of not having a REAL sex scene in my story, so early apologies for the rather short chapter.

Chapter 10: Last Kiss, Last Love, Last Chance (title has nothing to do with chapter )

A shadow entered Gino's room from the window that night at midnight, and a familiar kitsune in black recoiled the Whip of Fire to hang at his waist. Ian opened the windows from the outside to let himself in, going to Gino's sleeping form in bed. He wanted to tell Gino the truth; he wanted to tell Gino he didn't love him, but couldn't find any other time but now to to confess. He stood beside Gino's bed and sighed to himself at the sight of the young blonde laying peacefully asleep before him. Golden hair shimmered in the moonlight, and the white of the covers and his pale skin gave him the appearance of an angel.

I regret nothing... Ian thought as he removed his mask and sat beside Gino. I love both Gino and Liam, but can have only one...I'm sorry you must suffer, Gino...You're too pure...too perfect for something as dirty as me. Closing his eyes, Ian leaned down and kissed deliciously full lips.

As hoped, Gino woke from this and returned the kiss before Ian pulled away. The blonde sat up, the covers sliding down his bare chest to reveal his scar from the assassin. Gino gave Ian a concerned look. "Ian...what's wrong?"

"Gino..." Deep brown eyes met amber. "I came to tell you good-bye..." Gino's eyes became wide, but Ian continued speaking. "I...don't love you...I realized this yesterday while Liam was taking care of me...I don't love you, Gino...I love Liam..."

Gino sat stunned at Ian's words, staring almost lifelessly at the brunette. Finally, Gino shook his head. "No...Ian...I don't believe that..." He was struggling to speak, to think, to hold onto something that was slipping through his fingers. "If...if you didn't love me, then you wouldn't have kissed me moments ago..."

"There was nothing in that kiss..." Ian stated.

Tears glistened in Gino's amber eyes. He glared at Ian. "So if you kissed me again, there would be no sorrow, no love, no anything in it at all! If you touched my body, would your skin be as cold as death itself!" Ian could see Gino shaking in the silver moonlight. "Did you lie to me the entire time? When I loved you...when I held you...were you lying to me then!"

Ian put gloved hands on Gino's shoulders to steady him. "I thought I loved you...I thought it was love that drove me to treat you the way I did...but it was lust...Lust ruled me in our relationship...I'm trying to protect you from me!"

"I don't care!" Gino sobbed against him, pounding his fists on Ian's chest weakly. "I gave you my heart and soul...I love you...I don't care how you treat me, just don't abandon me like this!"

The brunette let Gino cry against him, then spoke solemnly. "You'd love me if I raped you?"

Gino fell silent as he caled and nodded. "Yes..." He whispered. "I'd still love you...if you took my body..."

Sudden desire coursed through Ian in waves at realization of Gino's words, his acceptance, and how close to nudity Gino was. Gino froze in Ian's arms as light, gloved fingers slid down his back and sides, pushing back the covers and cloth-pants from his skin. Gino shivered against Ian, quickly covering himself with his arms as Ian stripped him.

"I-Ian...what are you doing?" Gino asked as the shopkeeper began to pry Gino's arms from his body. He blushed as Ian sat on his legs and pinned Gino's hands over his head.

Ian's eyes shone with fiery lust. "You said you'd love me...even if I raped you...I want to know that you are telling the truth."

Amber eyes widened in fear and realization at Ian's words. Gino struggled a bit. "Ian...please...this isn't like you..."

"Hush..." Gino relaxed as warm breath caressed hsi cehst. "You'll enjoy this..."

Gino groaned as hot lips grabbed a nipple and sucked. He panted against Ian, arching his body and mumbling for more. Hands were freed from gloves and a warm palm explored Gino's body; following plains of skin, the abyss of a belly button, a golden forest, and the valley of his legs. Gino shivered and panted at the tender touch on sensative skin. Two fingers followed an unseen crevass to a spot that made the blonde gasp and lift his hips from the bed.

"Feel that?" Ian hissed in Gino's ear as he pressed his fingers against puckered flesh. "That is where I'll penetrate your sweet body..."

"W...won't it hurt?" Gino whispered, helping Ian out of his clothes when the shopkeeper let go of his wrists.

Blazing brown eyes gazed hungrily into Gino's amber. "That's the idea, love."

Ian dressed with an emotionless look on his face as he ignored Gino's whimpers of pain on the bed behind him. Blood, sweat, spray, and tears soaked the once-white sheets and Gino's once-perfect skin. He had shown no mercy to the blonde virgin and spared no amount of pleasure or pain the carnal sex ravaged upon the innocent. The shopkeeper closed his eyes as the whimpers became silent as Gino cried himself to sleep.

Feeling no emotion, he made sure the blonde's bleeding had stopped, then covered him with the ruined blankets. The animalistic desire to take Gino again tore at his mind, but he ignored it, knowing it would cause only more unnessecary suffering for both of them.

But aren't you suffering now? A small voice asked in Ian's empty mind. You hurt the one you love. Don't you see what's happening? Liam wants you two apart so he can have you! Liam doesn't care that you're suffering. He doesn't care that you're in pain. A pause, then, He wouldn't have shown you the same tenderness you showed Gino before and after you took him.

Ian stopped at the balcony and looked behind him at the sleeping Gino. He shook his head. No...No amount of wishing the past away can turn back time, the shopkeeper thought. I have to move on, as does Gino...Time...heals all wounds...physical...and emotional...