The Letter

Gippal turned his head towards the pillow that Rikku's head had lain on just a second before. He could still smell her florally scent that lingered there. "I should get up." Gippal hopped out of bed and headed for his kitchen. Once there he started making omelets, a cheese and bacon one for her and a ham and cheese one for him.

"Mmm. Smells good." Rikku said as she walked into the kitchen. She was sitting on one of his high stools when he finally turned around to look at her. Her hair was wet and hung straight down her back. The robe was way too big for her and gaped open at the top, giving him a view of her cleavage. Her bare legs swung back and forth, not able to reach the floor. The robe itself hung past her ankles. She really was tiny. Gippal knew though, that under all those innocent curves, was a woman who could kick ass.

"I made you an omelet." He finally got out.

"Aww. Thanks Gip." She smiled than gratefully took a bite out of her omelet. They ate the rest of their meal in silence, Rikku because she was hungry, Gippal because he kept looking at Rikku. "I should go get ready for work. I'm going to Bikanel today, right?" Gippal just nodded because the way she was leaning towards him was making the gap at the front open wider and allow him to see more. She got up and dashed for the bathroom. "Thanks for breakfast Gippal! I'll be ready soon, I promise." He smiled at her lie. She was never ready soon. He watched the bathroom door close behind her, then picked up the dishes and put them in his dishwasher. DING-DONG! His doorbell. Who would be coming over so early in the morning? They could have interrupted my beauty sleep. He walked slowly to the door and pulled it open. He found himself staring at the shortest man he had ever seen in a white uniform.

"Hey there. I have a couple of packages for a Mr. and Mrs. Gippal."

"I'm Mr. Gippal." Gippal looked down at the pile of packages at the man's feet. He wondered who had sent them and more importantly, who was Mrs. Gippal?

"Sign here please." Gippal did so then helped the man haul the boxes into his house. Man there was a lot of them.

"Thanks."

"No problem, Mr. Gippal. Thanks for your time." The man walked down his pathway and Gippal closed the door. He picked up the letter that was on top of the first box and began to read;

Dear Mrs. Gippal,

I hope you're enjoying your new home. Maybe you won't betray this family like you did your other. The boxes are all your stuff. I got Barkeep to pack it for you, to save you the trouble of coming back to get it. I thought you should know that I have a restraining order against both you and Gippal. Neither of you are allowed within a hundred feet of the airship. Have fun with Gippal. If you get pregnant by that man whore, I am not the child's uncle. Pop says he would rather you not get pregnant. Enjoy your new life of work.

Brother

Gippal looked sadly at the letter then up at the figure that was standing in front of him. She would pick today of all days to actually be quick.

"What is that Gippal?"

"It's nothing honey. Are you ready?"

"What is it?" Gippal looked at her in her thief outfit and knew she wasn't going to give up. "It's bout me, isn't it?" When he didn't answer she drew her weapons and moved closer to him. "Give me that paper!" Gippal shook his head no. He didn't want to hurt her more. "If you don't give me that paper right now, you'll regret it." Gippal looked down at her weapons and chose not to risk it. He handed the paper over silently. She put her weapons away then looked down at the paper. Gippal watched the emotions that crossed through her eyes as she read the letter. Sadness, anger, then sadness again. Tears fell freely down her cheeks. "You were going to hide this from me?" She asked quietly. It was more of a statement then a question though.

"I didn't want you to get hurt again. Rikku, you shouldn't have to go through this. You're too happy and upbeat to have to deal with this kind of bullshit. I just wanted to protect my sunshine. Besides, you're eyes are too beautiful to always be full of tears." A tiny smile lit up her face but it was gone way too soon.

"I better go wash my face." She went back into the bathroom. While waiting, Gippal gently stacked her boxes up. In no time she was back looking no worse for the wear.

"Ready?" Gippal asked her gently. "You don't have to go if you don't want to. I let you stay home and pay you as if it was a sick day."

"No, it's ok. I need to do this. I didn't give everything up for no reason, did I?" She tried to make humor out of her pain and he admired her for that.

"I guess not. So, you're ready to go then sunshine?" She smiled at that.

"Yes. Why are you suddenly calling me sunshine?" Rikku kind of liked the way it sounded. Like she was important to him, just as the sun was important to Spira.

"Because you're so bright like the sun and look at yourself. Everything's yellow, just like the sun. You make me think of sunshine." She smiled.

"When did you become such a sweetheart, Gippal? You use to be so callous, what's with the sudden change?"

"What are you talking about? I'm still callous. I'm a man, a real man. Remember that sunshine." He winked at her then walked out the front door. She followed him outside, and together, they waited for a hover again. Of course, with Gippal's luck, it was the same guy from yesterday. The one that had been ogling Rikku. Damn it. It was already starting out to be a very shitty day.