Remedy

Chapter Two


"That was fantastic, Maddi. You'll do wonderful in the recital." Kagome informed her daughter as she continued to shower her with praise. "Everyday you get better and better."

Maddi set her violin and bow down on the table. Blushing, she moved towards her mother and sat on her lap. Leaning her head against her mother's she whispered, "Thanks, Mommy."

Kagome ran her fingers through her hair. "Do you want me to keep watching you practice?" The two were seated inside the house's drawing room where they normally entertained guests. It also happened to be Maddi's preferred spot for practicing.

Maddi shook her head. "Mommy's had a long day at work. You relax, and I'll keep practicing."

Kagome arched a brow. "If that's what you want."

Maddi nodded. "I want to practice more and then perform for you." Performing in front of her mother was something she always enjoyed. Because her mother was willing to sit and listen to her play for hours, Maddi wanted her next performance to be her best one yet.

Kagome noticed the serious look on Maddi's face. "I think I'll go take a bath," she decided, letting Maddi climb off her lap. "When I'm done, I'll come back and listen to you play."

"That sounds good." She agreed, already reaching for her violin.

Kagome cracked a grin. "I'll be back soon." She left the room, leaving her coat and small briefcase off to the side. Maddi watched her walk upstairs and listened to her footsteps before she could hear them no longer. Waiting several minutes until she was sure her mother was out of earshot, Maddi began to play.


Maddi didn't know how much time had passed as she continued to practice. Because Mommy hasn't come downstairs, I think I have enough time to perfect one part of the song, she thought joyfully. Previously, her instructor, Mrs. Dubois, recommended that she perform the piece at her recital several weeks ago. Hesitant, Maddi still wasn't sure if she could handle the song. She wasn't the most confident around Mrs. Dubois—the woman was so scary she could probably make infants cry!—and Maddi found the song hard to play. She constantly struggled near the middle.

If it weren't for Mommy's encouraging words, I'd have given up a long time ago, she deduced. Unlike Mrs. Dubois, Kagome never shouted or scolded Maddi when she messed up. While her Mother was no violinist, anyone could tell when a song sounded off or the tune was not right.

"I need to keep practicing," Maddi grumbled. Violin tucked under her chin, she raised her bow and prepared to begin playing when suddenly she heard the phone ring. Confused, she set down her instrument and inched closer towards the sound; it was coming from her mother's jacket.

Maddi blinked and reached inside the first pocket. Eyes widening, she recognized the phone.

This is Mommy's work phone, she thought nervously, sucking her bottom lip. Should I go get Mommy? She glanced towards the stairwell; there were no signs of her mother. Her fear worsened. It might be an important call.

Maddi sucked in a breath, opened the phone and brought the receiver to her ear. "Hello?"

"Is this Kagome-chan?" A voice asked hesitantly.

"Huh?" Kagome-chan? Why would anyone calling her mother ask to speak to her so informally? Normally strangers always addressed her mother by her last name.

Maybe it is a friend of Mommy's.

She licked her lips. "Um, she can't come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?"

"Oh." The person paused. "Are you her daughter?"

Maddi grinned. "Hai, I'm Maddi Higurashi. It's nice to meet you."

The person chuckled. "I'm Ryu. It's nice to meet you, Maddi-chan… You know," he spoke slowly, "Kagome-chan never mentioned she had a daughter."

Maddi grinned. "Mommy never mentioned she had a friend by the name of Ryu-san."

Ryu laughed. "You're funny, Maddi-chan."

The violinist felt her ears darken. "A-Arigato," she mumbled shyly.

"If Kagome-chan is busy right now, can you tell her to call me back?" Ryu politely inquired. Maddi beamed and responded. "Arigato, Maddi-chan, I really appreciate it."

Curious, she boldly stated. "Can I know your full name?"

Ryu hesitated. "Why?"

Maddi shrugged. "Mommy might want to know." A logical excuse, she thought, smiling.

Ryu clicked his tongue. "When you tell your mother I called, she'll know who it is."

Pouting, she whined. "You're no fun, Ryu-san."

"Eh! I can be fun, Maddi-chan; na no da!" He protested.

Na no da? Why did that sound familiar?

"I don't believe you."

Ryu decided to change the topic. He didn't want to get into an argument with Kagome's daughter. "Nee, Maddi-chan, how old are you?"

Maddi beamed and answered proudly. "I'm seven."

"Seven?" He gushed, astonished. "Wow, you must be a big girl then, huh?"

A big girl? She blushed. No one besides her mother or Marian ever called her a big girl. "Y-Yes," she stuttered. "I am a big girl." Ryu laughed and continued to converse with Maddi. For the next half hour, the two chatted. Although Ryu dominated most of the conversation, Maddi answered all his questions gleefully and without hesitation. The little violinist didn't know how much time had passed until she felt Kagome lift her up and plunk her down in her lap.

"Mama!" she squeaked. "I'm talking to Ryu-san!"

Kagome furrowed her brows. Ryu-san? Could her daughter be referring to Ryuichi Sakuma? Interested, she cleared her throat. "Maddi, may I talk to Ryu-san?"

Maddi frowned but complied. "Ryu-san, Mommy will talk to you now."

Ryu, too, sounded sad. "Maddi-chan, it was fun talking to you. I hope we can talk again soon."

"Yeah… me too," she mumbled and handed her mother the phone.

Kagome thanked her daughter and brought the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hello Kagome-chan," Ryuichi spoke softly. Kagome felt her insides melt.

"Have y-you decided what you would like to do?" Kagome cursed herself for stuttering. More than anything, she wanted to have a conversation with the vocalist where she didn't stutter at all.

"Yes, I think I have an idea."

Kagome blushed. "Well, I would love to hear it."

As her mother conversed with Ryu-san, Maddi slid off her lap and began to put her instrument away. Shutting the case with a soft thud, she noticed the way her mother stumbled with her words. It puzzled Maddi, and had her wondering why she was behaving like that. Normally, Kagome sounded highly composed and sure of herself over the telephone. After all, she had to present herself in such a manner to the other staff members and her clients. Though she was working in a hospital, it was still a business, and she had to maintain a certain image.

Does Mommy like Ryu-san? Maddi cocked her head to the side before skipping out of the room. I had better give Mommy some privacy. Whenever she talked with people over the phone, Maddi knew better than to eavesdrop. Even if she wanted to know what her mother was talking about with Ryu-san, it was better to let her mother tell her when she was off the phone.

Kagome watched Maddi skip towards the kitchen. When she was out of earshot, she heard Ryuichi say, "Kagome-chan, you never mentioned you had a daughter."

She licked her lips. "Ryuichi-san, it's a bit hard to explain."

"Eh?"

Kagome suppressed her giggles. "Ryuichi-san, I'll say it simply. Biologically speaking, Maddi is not my daughter."

Ryuichi paused for a minute, absorbing the newfound information. "… Are you saying that Maddi-chan was adopted?"

Kagome sighed, "Hai, Ryuichi-san that is correct."

"Oh." She could picture his befuddled expression. Nervously, she fiddled with the strings of her pyjama pants, awaiting his answer.

"Well, can I still meet Maddi-chan?"

Kagome's jaw dropped. "Ryuichi-san, you want to meet Maddi?"

"Hai!" he shouted energetically. "She sounds too cute! We had lots of fun talking, and she told me lots of neat stuff about her bear, her nanny, and your two doggies."

Kagome couldn't help but smile. If only Maddi knew whom she had been talking to, she realized with a faint chuckle. Similar to her mother, Maddi was also a fan of the famous band. However, unlike her mother, her favourite member was not the lead vocalist but rather the sole female member: Noriko Ukai.

"Kagome-chan, when can I meet Maddi-chan?"

Shivers ran down Kagome's spine. Ryuichi was dead serious on wanting to meet her daughter. "Ano… I suppose the best time would be towards the end of the week," she spoke softly.

"You both are busy until then?" He pouted. "Aw, I was hoping for something sooner."

"Ryuichi-san, I'm busy with work, and Maddi has school." Along with violin practice, tutoring and swimming classes, Kagome added on.

"I understand," the singer complied. "You and Maddi-chan have your own lives. I respect that, but I really want to meet her, and see you again." Kagome was thankful they weren't having this conversation in person. If Sakuma-san were to see her overly red face and the way she continually trembled when hearing his perfect voice speak, she might die of embarrassment.

"P-Perhaps this coming Friday evening?" she suggested shyly. "I get off work early on Fridays."

"This coming Friday?"

She held her breath. He probably has something better to do, she realized sadly.

"Um, yes?" she squeaked.

Ryuichi laughed, much to her surprise. "That sounds great, Kagome-chan. I'll look forward to it." Another pause; she heard a lot of shuffling going on about in the background. "Kagome-chan, can I have your address? I'll need it if I'm going to stop by this Friday night."

Oh my goodness…

Her bottom legs quivered as she told him the address. As well as supplying him with the main intersections located near her home, Kagome had to sit down and fan herself with her hand in an attempt to remain calm.

Keep it together, its just another person… another person by the name of Ryuichi Sakuma!

"Arigato, Kagome-chan, I can't wait to see you and Maddi-chan Friday night. See you then."

"Ja ne, Ryuichi-san, and good night," she said before hanging up. Letting it fall onto her lap, Kagome gazed up towards the ceiling and exhaled a loud, relieved sigh.

"Mommy, are you done talking?" Maddi poked her head inside the drawing room, watching her mother from the across the way.

"Hai, I'm done." Kagome whispered, ushering her daughter forward. Maddi scrambled towards her, and dove for her mother's lap. Clambering her way into a comfortable sitting position, Maddi leaned her head against Kagome's shoulder.

"Mommy, what did Ryu-san want?"

Kagome shut her eyes. "Ryu-san… is a new friend of mine. He wanted to talk to me about something important. That discussion will be continued this coming Friday evening."

"Oh?" Maddi sat up straight. "Does this mean that I'll be able to meet Ryu-san?" Without even looking her way, Kagome knew her daughter was excited by the prospect of meeting him.

She has not seen him face-to-face, and already she's excited. Kagome grimaced.

"Hai, sweetie, you'll be able to meet him."

Maddi smiled widely before burying her face into her mother's shoulder. "Yay," she whispered.

Kagome rolled her eyes and shifted in her seat. "Maddi, I haven't heard you play since I went upstairs to shower. Might I hear how the song is coming along?"

"Of course, Mommy," Maddi laughed, sliding off her lap. Watching her daughter assemble her instrument and sheet music, Kagome felt a wave of calmness and serenity wash over her.

Too bad, it wouldn't last for much longer.