Author's Note: PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! I've been so busy. Okay, so if I'm ever inactive for a long period of time, I'm:

A) Busy and/or on vacation

Or B) Dead

(But let's hope it's the first choice. O.o)

And not to mention the fact that I lost my jump drive, which had all of my chapters on it. But luckily, I found it.

Okay, so on the news of fanart. TechNomaNcer28 drew Ivalee and Sync together. Go to deviant and hers is colored and has them both in it and a pretty pink background. I'm not really sure how much more I can narrow it down. XD

Kazegami-Inkpot drew a big combination picture, with a bunch of OC's in it, and it's the one that's…uh…got a bunch of people in kimonos in it. And not colored. XD

xXAsalemXx drew another combination picture, with only three chibi people in it. Um, there's three chibis and it's kinda colored. And it says OC'S in big letters at the top.

Thank you so much everyone! You're so awesome! XD

Sync and Ivalee both dusted the snow from their shoes once they were in the hotel. Everyone else had already retreated upstairs to their own rooms, since it was getting dark. And not to mention the dropping temperatures outside.

By the time he and Ivalee were upstairs, he could've sworn it was below negative twenty. Sync quickly lit the fireplace, and Ivalee huddling close to it. He sat down next to her, wrapping both of his arms around her and resting his head on hers.

"Sync…" Ivalee started to say after they both were a bit warmer. "Is something wrong?"

"No," He replied, trying to sound normal.

"Well, you've been acting…a little different." Ivalee commented, snuggling closer to him.

"How so?"

"Well…" She paused, staring at the flames. "I-I'm not quite sure, but you just don't seem like yourself right now."

"Oh." He couldn't tell her about the deal with Legretta. And now that Ivalee knew something was up, it would be even harder to go through with it. "Don't worry about it." Sync leaned his head down into the crook of her neck.

"Wait, wait." She said, trying to lean away from him. "What do I not need to worry about?"

"Nothing," He mumbled.

"Sync, tell me what's wrong," Ivalee demanded.

"Nothing is wrong," Sync replied, kissing her cheek. His hands dropped to her hips and turned her to face him.

"Then w-"

"Are you warm yet?" He interrupted, changing the subject.

"Sort of, but-"

"Here," Sync pulled a blanket from on top of the bed and draped it over her shoulders.

"Thanks." She paused, knowing that he'd interrupt her again if she tried to ask about it. Staring at him, she waited for an answer. He sighed.

"Look, if you drop the subject, I promise you…" He thought for a second before continuing. "I'll buy you a present tomorrow." Ivalee continued to look at him for a few seconds.

"Fine," She gave in, resting against his chest again. Her eyes fluttered a few times before shutting. "Make it a good one."

--

The sunlight woke Sync the next morning, and as Ivalee continued to sleep, he slipped quietly outside.

Morning was still cold, but that didn't stop him as he ambled by some shops. Now what would Ivalee want… he pondered.

"Hey, Sync!" A voice called. Shit. He recognized the voice as Caleb. Glancing around, he quickly ducked inside the nearest store, which happened to be a toy store. Hmm, Ivalee may like something here…

The bell on the door rang again, and the chatter of the few boys filled the previously quiet store.

"Sync!" Jarrett slapped him on the back, almost making him topple over.

"What are you doing in here?" Scott looked around at the toys and trinkets.

"I bet he's getting something for his girlfriend," Ray grinned at him. Sync ignored him, glancing for anything Ivalee might like. He strolled in the next aisle, which was filled with stuffed animals.

"What's her favorite animal?" Caleb wondered.

"Uh-" The Commandant was about to say he didn't know, but a certain animal caught his eye. A perfect little rappig stuffed animal about the size of his head lay nestled to his right. Picking it up, he smiled. Ivalee would love it.

"Rappig?" Jarrett asked. "Aren't those…smelly and dirty?"

"And lazy," Caleb piped in. Sync just rolled his eyes and headed for the checkout. A girl, probably only a few years older than himself, was working at the desk, as nervous as can be. She's probably just trying to earn some extra gald, he thought.

"Is that all for today?" The young girl asked as she placed the stuffed animal in the bag. Sync nodded, and pulled out his wallet. He heard the other guys talking out Ivalee, which only made him annoyed.

"So," The most annoying man out of the bunch clamped a hand down on his shoulder. "have you gotten her in bed yet?"

His wallet dropped to the floor, and all of his gald spilled everywhere.

"What the hell of a question is that?!" Sync shoved Caleb's hand away and picked up the spilt money. As he stood up and handed the cashier the money, he felt sorry for her, having to listen to these guys. She was already a nervous wreck, and they weren't helping.

Grabbing the bag, he quickly exited, hoping that it'd be possible to lose them before he got back to the inn.

"I bet he hasn't even kissed her yet," Jarrett said to Caleb.

"What's he afraid of? Her running away after he kisses her?" Scott commented.

"Well, she can run to me," Caleb responded, laughing with the rest of them. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?!

"If you must know," Sync started, whipping around to face them. "I have kissed her."

"Calm down," Ray advised. "We're just kidding."

"Maybe you are, but we're not!" Jarrett and Caleb slapped high-fives while laughing.

"I'm leaving," He stated, stalking back to the hotel. Luckily, this time, they didn't follow.

--

When Sync got back to the room, Ivalee was still asleep. She was curled in a ball, the sheets kicked off the edge. He sat down on the bed next to her, stroking her cheek.

"Ivalee," He whispered. "C'mon Ivalee, time to wake up." After a minute or two, she stirred, and her hands reached out for him like she was a little girl. He pulled her into his arms, letting her lean on his shoulder.

That was one of the things he really liked about her. She was grown up, and made her own decisions and followed what she thought was right. But even though she had more sense than the average girl her age, she was still just a kid at heart.

"What's that?" she asked, pointing to the bag in his hand. He pulled out the little animal, watching her eyes go as wide as dinner plates.

"It's your gift, just like I said last night." She played with its long, floppy ears, giggling.

"He's so cute!" Ivalee squealed. "I want a real rappig!" Sync rolled his eyes, smiling to himself.

"Here, how about this," He proposed his idea. "I'll get you a rappig after all of this is over, and until then, you'll be happy with the little stuffed one."

"Okay!" She agreed, hugging it tightly. Sync smiled, but his mood was trampled when he remembered the deal he'd made with Legretta. Sighing, he quickly set it into action.

"Let's get something to eat."

--

He decided that it was best for them to stay inside, so they took the elevator upstairs to the little café. There weren't many people up there; most of the residents in the hotel had already checked out.

Ivalee picked at her salad with her fork, spinning it around in circles, and occasionally sticking it in her mouth. Sync was also silent; staring at his plate as if doing so would solve all his problems.

"...Sync?" She started. He looked up from his plate.

"Hmm?"

"Well, you know you can tell me anything, right?" The redhead leaned forward. Sync inwardly groaned, sitting up straight.

"Ivalee, I thou-"

"I know," She cut in. "that I promised I wouldn't bring it up again, but I just wanted to make sure you knew that whatever it is, you can tell me."

His head bobbed. He wanted to tell her, but Sync just knew that Ivalee would throw a fit over Legretta's idea. Especially if she knew it came from that wicked woman.

"And I could help, with whatever it is. 'Cause that's what people like us do; we help each other."

"You're right," He sighed, looking down. "Maybe...later." Ivalee nodded, turning her attention to the waiter, who was carrying dessert on a tray.

"Would you care for some of our famous chocolate pie?" She asked sweetly.

"Oh, no thank you." Ivalee responded. "Pie makes me sleepy." The girl shrugged it off and walked away, while Sync looked at her strangely.

There was a sudden slam of the small restaurant door.

"Ivalee! Sync!" Guy stumbled over to their table, narrowly avoiding the waiter with the pie.

"Guy? What's wrong?" Ivalee inquired.

"It's Legretta! She's outside!"

"What?!"

"And she's looking for you, Sync!"