Chapter 3

"Ahem." I cleared my throat. "Hi, dad. I uh... I just wanted to- Ah shit."

I repeated the action of attempting and failing to rehearse what I was going to say to my father. I hadn't spoken to him in a long time, he was always busy working so I didn't want to waste his time with awkward phone silence, so I needed to get this right!

I began pacing around my newly tidied apartment. In the end I wasn't able to get my homework done, the spirit had distracted me too much so I decided to attempt a phone call instead.

Gah! Why is this so difficult?

"Hi dad! I haven't spoken to you in a while so I thought I would give you a call! So what have you been doing lately-"

"You know your dad isn't actually in the room, right?" The spirit appeared directly in front of me. He didn't look too happy. "You're taking this talking to yourself thing too far landlord, you are giving me a headache."

I sighed to myself.

He's really not going to give me a break today huh?

"I know he isn't here, I was rehearsing what I was going to say when I called him." I explained as calmly as I could.

He raised his eyebrow and looked at me like I had just killed a puppy.

"I don't want to waste his time if I call him, he's a busy man!" I said, trying to justify myself, though the spirit still didn't take me too seriously. "Look just... Please don't bother me when I call him. I haven't spoken with him in months, don't ruin it for me." I pleaded with him.

"Honestly Landlord! Do you really think I would do such a thing?" He mocked the sound of hurt with his voice while making some overly exaggerated actions with his arms.

"Yes. You would."

"True." he nodded. "But you have my word, I shan't bother you this time." He raised his hands.

"Hm."

I walked across the room, still keeping my eyes locked on the spirit as I picked up my phone. I quickly typed in my fathers number, I knew it off by heart. Listening to the ring felt like a never ending torture. Every time I called I felt the same worry, will he pick up? Or won't he?

/Hello? Hello? Ryou is that you?/

Upon hearing the familiar voice of my dad I visibly relaxed. I slumped myself down against the couch and smiled into my response.

"Yes. Hi dad. How have you been?"

/Ah I've been good Ryou, we've found some pretty interesting stuff lately... How have you been? Doing well in school? Made any new friends? Maybe someone a bit closer than a friend...?/

I blushed at that last part. He asked that question every time he answered, the answer was always no of course so I guess he just asked to tease me. But I didn't mind so much. It was nice to know that even after being away for so long he could still make time to joke with me.

"I've been great, actually. I think I have made quite a few friends... Really good ones too. My answer to your last question will likely never change." I paused, ah school... Currently my second worst enemy, only being beaten by the spirit for reading my mind link earlier today. "And... Schools great." I lied about that last one.

/That's good...That's good./

"So you said you found some interesting things?" I quickly changed the subject, wanting to steer the topic as far from school as he could.

/Oh! Yes I did! First of all we.../

Not going to lie, I kind of stopped paying attention to what he was actually saying. I didn't care as much as I probably should about my fathers work, I mean it was interesting... But it wasn't why I called him. Truth is, I just needed some kind of reassurance that he did still care about me and have time for me, even if it was limited.

We stayed on the phone for just under an hour before he muttered something about going to a new site now.

"Ok dad. Bye, speak soon." I pressed the end call button and let out a loud sigh.

That's the longest he's spoken to me in ages.

"Did it go as you 'rehearsed' eh, Ryou?" He smirked floating over to the sofa and 'sitting' beside me.

Ah yes... I had forgotten he was around.

"No. But that's ok, it was better." I said flatly, not taking my eyes of the phone screen as I scrolled through my photos.

"Do you always do that?"

"Do what?" I came to a stop on the list of questions.

I have only asked two so far. What's the next one...

"Practice before hand."

'Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?' Huh, that's convenient.

"Usually I do... Not as much as today, but I like to have an idea of what I'm going to say, it prevents any awkward silences." I put down my phone and explained. "Don't you?"

"I don't have a phone silly Landlord." He spoke with a mocking tone as he tilted his head to look at me.

"But if you did, would you?"

He furrowed his brows together, looking me up and down.

"So many questions my dear hikari. You used to refuse to even acknowledge me, I never imagined you would ask me light hearted questions some day."

"You didn't answer the question." I decided it was best to ignore what he just said. "It helps to know what you're going to say before hand."

"If you don't know what you want to say then why call?"

He has a point I guess.

"So you wouldn't rehearse it then?"

"Nope. I also don't see why I would use an electronic device to speak with someone if I could simply speak to them for real. Face to face. In person. You know people of today sure are lazy-"

"Ok!" I stopped him there. I didn't particularly want to listen to him insult the enitre human species, though I am sure he would have no problems in doing so.

"I'm right. Your technology has advanced and is quite magnificent, but I fail to see the necessity of it."

"I suppose you would see it that way, after all you are a 3000 year old spirit aren't you grandad?" I pulled tongues at the spirit who stared at me in disbelief as I stood up. "Well I am going to actually finish my homework now so don't disturb me!"

Needless to say the spirit was royally dumbfounded by my childish behaviour.

Ah yes, I was in a much better mood after that.