-1KAI

I hung up only to remember I had forgotten to say hello to Soraya. She had the voice of angel but my plane was being called. Well at least I could enjoy some time with my family before I had to go back to work. I never did spend a lot of time with them when I had to take over Voltaire's business. I've been working myself ragged finding everything out and keeping everything on track. When I finally did a year ago I was working as hard as I possibly could without killing myself.

But my work load strangely became much lighter a few months ago and I found I could actually take time off.

This decision came around when I heard a very interesting discussion between a couple of secretaries through the air vents. "He's got a little girl apparently."

"With the way he's been working I wonder how he's found the time to have one." The other would say and they laughed at my expense. "It's a good thing he's taking time off. His work load made him start acting like his grandfather and you remember how scary he was." I looked at my reflection in a nearby window for a minute remembering the colleagues I shouted at for not delivering their work in on time. I frowned when I remembered how my grandfather treated his workers as he would call them. I thanked the ladies in my mind for bringing me back from wherever it was I had made a home in the last couple of years.

But now I'm home and work is the last thing on my mind. "Kai!" I was greeted with Ebony coming up to me and kissing me for a long period of time. I cursed our need for oxygen but my lungs needed it badly as did Ebony's.

We went out to the garden to see Soraya running around like all little kids should. I couldn't believe how much she had grown from the last time I saw her. Ebony and I came up to her and my daughter stopped in her tracks. She took one look at me and ran behind Ebony for cover. Ebony had told me she was shy around strangers and did that when she introduced anyone to Soraya. Had I really been gone that long? "Soraya this is your father, say hello." Soraya peeked around Ebony's right leg and looked up at me not quite sure of what to say. "Hi." It sounded feeble and she seemed frightened. It hurt me to see her so scared I felt like someone had pierced my heart with an arrow.

Ebony pushed Soraya forward and I looked down at her. Soraya trembled in my shadow and looked me directly in the eye. Was I that intimidating? I crouched down to her level and smiled at my creation. Soraya came forward tentatively and slowly put her arms around my neck. Ebony smiled as I put my arms around this tiny little figure.

I lifted her up and we all went inside the house. I opened the door to my study which was very well taken care of but I hadn't used it for quite sometime. But in the three weeks I'll be staying here the suitcase in my hand will remain closed. Soraya still hadn't a clue as to who I was but didn't mind me carrying her around the house. In fact she seemed to enjoy it and moaned a little when I put her down.

The first thing we did was sit down in the dining room for lunch. I hadn't had a proper home cooked meal in a long time, it tasted good after eating a lot of room service and cafeteria food.

I looked at Soraya for a second remembering the last time we ate together as a family. I ended up with spaghetti on my hair and clothes from a baby girl who was full of mischief. Ebony wasn't spared from Soraya's food bombing's either. By the end of it we were covered and laughing for hours as we took a long bath. But she had long since grown out of it and still looked nervous with me being around. As far as Soraya was concerned I was a stranger. It was really quiet too so for once I decided to start a conversation before I went mad with this endless silence.

"So how's Mira doing these days?"

"Mira went to university yesterday." Oh yeah, I got an e-mail from Mira telling me that. She must've left before I came home in case I tried to stop her from leaving. I probably would've, wise move Mira. "Soraya started school this year, tell him what you did yesterday."

"Soraya?" The little girl jumped when I talked to her and dropped her fork with a loud clang on to her plate. She looked at me and then back to Ebony. "You painted a picture of a horse right?" Ebony said trying to keep the conversation going but Soraya wasn't having any of it. "A horse? What colours did you use?" I said trying to sound interested and that's when Soraya exploded. "YOUR NOT MY DADDY!"

"Soraya!" Ebony exclaimed as Soraya ran out of the room with tears in her eyes. I sighed, trust me to open my big mouth. I'm never good at starting conversations and here's the proof, my own daughter runs out the room crying. Next time I decide to start a conversation I hope someone will put a gun to my head and pull the trigger. "I'll go talk to her."

"You will?" Why's that so surprising? "No offence Kai but you usually put your foot in your mouth when it comes to stuff like this."

"I managed ok with you didn't I?" I smirked and Ebony smiled. "Yes you did. Ok you got this one but don't screw it up. She's wiser than her age and I've seen this building inside her for years." Thanks for the boost of confidence wife.

I went to Soraya's room to hear her crying on the other side of the door. How did she think I felt? But to be fair I haven't been around for most of her life. Maybe I should wait until she's calmed down a bit, and then I see Ebony's face calling me a coward. But I'd rather be battling the scariest looking opponent my beyblading days could produce than to go and talk to my daughter. If that makes me a coward then so be it.

I sighed and knocked on the door. She stopped crying instantly and I heard her moving around before nothing more was heard. I slowly opened the door to see Soraya had vanished. I could only deduce she was hiding from me and I really didn't blame her. If the same happened with my father I would probably run and hide.

Soraya was a hide and seek champion by the look of things. She wasn't under her bed, in the cupboard, in the joint bathroom or behind the curtains. I gave up and lay back on her bed to look up and see an impression of Soraya on the canopy. I racked my brains trying to figure out how she got up there. She wasn't moving a muscle and I sighed loudly.

SORAYA

I stayed in my hiding place to hear the man who mummy says is my daddy sigh. "Well I can at least tell Ebony I've tried talking to you. I'm sorry if I haven't been much of a father and I have no excuse for neglecting you and Ebony like that but I'm here now. Can we at least try to be father and daughter? Please?" I didn't say anything or even move, I still didn't trust him and this guy scared me. He sighed again and groaned in defeat. "I was hoping to at least talk to you, I mean it's been six years since I last saw you. You were either asleep or somewhere else. I'm you father, you're my daughter and I want to get to know you. Can I at least try?"

"I don't know you." That's all I could think of saying to this man. "Well I don't know you…but I want to."

My head started hurting just thinking about what I should do next. "Ok." The man laughed and I felt something tickling me from below. I could help but laugh and squirm, I think he found me. I peaked over the side to see him looking up at me with a smile on his face. It was different to when I first saw his face, it was empty of any feelings and his eyes were cold, he scared me. "You want to come down now?"

"Ok." He held his arms up and I lowered myself in to them. He cuddled me and I giggled when he started tickling me again. After a while I pleaded for him to stop and he did, I think I'll like my daddy after all. "Your not going to tell me how you got up there are you?"

"No way! That's my most favouritist hiding place."

KAI

She maybe wise beyond her years but she still had a ways to go. Favouritist? It may not be a real word but it reflected my daughters age and I got to know her a little better. "I'm sorry for saying your not my daddy."

"Don't worry about it." She smiled and kissed my cheek before putting her little head on my shoulder. Ebony smiled when we showed up in the garden with smiles on our faces.