Remedy

Chapter Three

Author's Note - Sorry for the delay, school has been taking up far too much time - I blame University. XD Anyhow, I'll be aiming to post up a few more chapters this year before school starts up again - thank goodness for the break. :D I hope you all enjoy the chapter, and if you have anything you'd like to see in the future chapters feel free to suggest them. Anyhow, off to enjoy the chapter. :)

The days passed by, and before Kagome knew it, Friday was upon them. To think, in just a few short hours Ryuichi Sakuma will be having dinner in my house. Her insides melted and her ears turned a lovely shade of cheery red. I wonder what we should have for dinner. Would there be something specific he'd like to eat? She licked her lips. Maybe there's something Maddi would like to eat tonight.

She looked through the driver's mirror and saw her daughter bouncing up and down in the backseat. Her purple backpack lay open beside her with few books and notebooks on the verge of falling out.

"Maddi, please close your bag." Kagome advised as she pulled into the driveway of her home, heading for the open garage. Maddi pouted but complied before unbuckling her seatbelt. Kagome chuckled and removed the key from the ignition. Helping her daughter out of the car, the two entered the home while the garage door shut behind them.

"I hear Kiki and Coco," Maddi laughed as she dashed ahead of her mother. Kagome smiled when she entered the mudroom and saw the two dogs jumping and barking joyfully. Their tails were moving rapidly, and Maddi looked beyond ecstatic as she attempted to hold both in her arms.

"I'll take this," she giggled, hanging her daughter's bag on the nearest hook.

"Maddi-chan, you should change out of your uniform. It's Friday, and I want them all washed and clean for Monday." Miriam stated, emerging from the kitchen. Sporting her usual French braid and apron, Miriam, their faithful housekeeper and friend, ushered Maddi out of the room and into her bedroom. "As soon as you're changed and have a snack, you can play all you want with Kiki and Coco."

Kagome listened to her daughter's ongoing protests as she climbed the stairs and disappeared from sight, chuckling under her breath. I suppose I should change too, she reflected, heading for the stairs, dually noting Kiki and Coco trailing behind.

"You two better not destroy this set of heels, too." She warned them upon entering her bedroom. She placed her bag down on the nearest chair and slid off the heels, watching out of the corner of her eye as both dogs scampered towards the bed. Kiki hopped up with no trouble, but Coco struggled.

Kagome watched the terrier's continuous struggles for some seconds before deciding to step in. "Here you are." She picked him up and placed him down on the quilt beside Kiki.

"Mommy, where are Kiki and Coco?" In a blue jumper dress with matching stripped socks, Maddi dashed into the room heading straight for her mother.

"They're on the bed." Kagome said, unbuttoning her thick blouse. Maddi smiled in glee and ran towards the bed performing a belly flop as she landed beside the two doggies that wasted no time in jumping on her. Kagome watched them from her dresser's mirror and shook her head, smiling.

"Mommy, when is Ryu-san coming?" Maddi inquired, adjusting the buttons on her sweater.

"He should be here in a few minutes." She answered, fiddling with her palms, her heart pounding inside her chest.

Maddi eyed her curiously. "Is something wrong, Mommy?"

Kagome cursed her luck. Is my fidgeting that obvious that my seven-year-old daughter can see right through it?

Maddi continued to survey her mother. Mommy is acting really weird, she realized, stunned. I wonder why. All afternoon, Maddi had watched her mother help Miriam prepare a nice evening meal and clean the house—the living and dinning room especially. She had even suggested that Maddi change out of her blue jumper in favour of a white blouse and long sleeved pink dress. Ryu-san must be very important to Mommy, she decided with a nod of the head. I've never seen her like this before.

Meanwhile, Kagome was smoothening out the wrinkles in her pants, hoping it would also help reduce the sweating on her palms.

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

All afternoon she'd been excited and dreading the evening to come. Knowing that Ryuichi wanted to spend time with her and her daughter made her unbelievably happy, but also nervous beyond despair. I hope Maddi doesn't get too shocked. She bit her lip, frowning. Although Maddi was thrilled at the prospect of meeting Ryuichi, she had no clue it was her favourite Ryuichi. Kami, I can only imagine how this will turn out.

A few minutes passed, and then someone knocked at the door. Upon hearing the sound, Kiki and Coco dashed towards the door, barking madly while their tails wagged. Kagome instructed Maddi to keep the dogs under control while she opened the door and invited Ryuichi inside.

"Konbanwa, Kagome-chan!" he greeted cheerfully, wearing a thick brown jacket, sunglasses and a baseball cap.

"Konbanwa, Ryuichi-san. May I take your coat?" Helping the singer slide off the garment, she faintly noted the rich smell of aftershave and cologne.

She blushed. He smells quite nice, she thought before banishing the thought from her mind, forcing herself to think of other thoughts.

"Ah, you must be Maddi-chan?" When hearing her name, Maddi looked up.

"H-Hai…" Her mouth dropped.

Without Kagome realizing it, Ryuichi had removed his sunglasses and hat revealing his handsome face.

Maddi stared, flabbergasted. "M-Mommy," her voice quaked before she dashed towards her mother's legs, clinging on tightly.

Ryuichi visibly frowned. "Aw, Maddi-chan, what's wrong? I was really looking forward to meeting you."

Instantaneously, she flushed bright and buried her face in her mother's pants. Kagome offered the singer a heartfelt apology and lovingly patted her daughter's hair. "I'm sorry, Ryuichi-san, I never told Maddi, err, who exactly you were."

The singer nodded in understanding. It made Maddi's actions a bit clearer; however, he wasn't going to give up. "Nee, Maddi-chan, I want you to meet someone. Like Mr. Bear is your good friend, he's my best friend."

Curiously, Maddi turned her head to the side and watched Ryuichi pull out the famous stuffed rabbit pink Kumagoro. Her eyes widened for a fraction. "Kuma," she whispered.

"Hai, hai," Ryuichi laughed. "Ever since Kumagoro learned about Maddi-chan, he, too, has wanted to meet her." While Maddi was enthralled watching Kumagoro, Ryuichi took that time to slide closer towards her. "He's been wanting to say hello all week; na no da."

Maddi flushed pink and hesitantly extended a hand forward. "H-hello," she stuttered.

Ryuichi brought the rabbit to his ear and nodded deeply. "Kuma-chan says hello, too," he informed the little girl. "And he never expected Maddi-chan to be such a cutie either." Kagome could've sworn she saw steam escape from her daughter's ears milliseconds after obtaining such a complement from the singer.

"Maddi, what do we say to Kumagoro?" Kagome asked.

"Arigato," she mumbled, one hand letting go of the pant material.

Ryuichi grinned. "Since Kuma-chan got a greeting, does this mean I get one, too?" He extended his arms out wide. Maddi recognized the gesture and looked up, wondering what her mother thought of the situation. Kagome merely smiled and urged her daughter forward.

"Go on, Maddi, nothing will happen."

Still flushed, the little girl bit her lip and slowly withdrew herself from the safety of her mother. Taking a small step forward, she shakily extended her arms around the singer, offering him a small hug. "H-hello," she stuttered again, unable to believe who she hugging.

Ryuichi wrapped his arms tightly around her, grinning happily. "Hello, Maddi-chan."