CHAPTER ONE

Author's Note: Tomoyo is a rich nineteen year-old heir to Daidouji Corporations. Yes, rich-- but is it worth it if you have to bear tormenting abuse from your very own mother? Out of the blue, a stranger arrives, supposedly, to kill her according to her mother's orders. But...

Tomoyo stared back at the cold, grey walls, imprisoning her from freedom and yet, protecting her from the cruel outside world. Her beautiful locks were messy and had the worst case of split ends. Her branded clothes were torn and scratched in every single place possible. Her body bore raw bruises, signs of abuse from less than twenty-four hours ago. The rough, cemented floor rubbed against her fresh wounds; muffled moans escaped her dry lips. She was thirsty; dehydrated, even. When was the last time she had water again?

Hearing the door unlock, Tomoyo knew that water was the least of her problems. Sonomi was back and surely with more tales about Nadeshiko, her idol. The great door swung open slowly, menacingly, as if the person outside wanted to purposely lengthen Tomoyo's fear. It worked; she stared in reluctant anticipation. It was surely her mother, coming back.

A feral grin stood out in the dark. Sonomi walked in slowly, her high heels clicking away methodically. She knelt down beside her daughter and removed Tomoyo's dusty slippers. "Nadeshiko's daughter, I heard, has beautiful small feet," Sonomi took off the other slipper. She turned to her handbag and took out unending layers of pure white cloth.

She gingerly caressed Tomoyo's foot, which was dirty and rough. "What's your size? Ten?"

Tomoyo wished very much to move from her mother's chilling grasp. But the chains held her tightly no matter how much she tried to resist.

"Don't move!" Sonomi snapped; her voice was angry, her lips pulled back into a snarl. She looked just like a cat about to pounce on its unyielding prey. "Let me bind your foot! I want your feet to look just like dear Nadeshiko's daughter's!"

Tomoyo struggled even furiously, shaking her body so violently that Sonomi had to give her a hard slap. Weakened from days of starvation and dehydration, Tomoyo's body could not bear much more and sank into a deep sleep, leaving Sonomi alone in silence. Rubbing her hands together in glee, she reached for the cloth strips and began to wrap them around her daughter's foot.

She was interrupted, though, when there was a knock on the door, and her faithful servant, Moshu, told her that she had some guests. Sonomi swept her hair back irritably. Why did she have to leave just when she was having fun?

"It's HIM," Moshu urged, his voice was strained with panic.

"Oh?" Sonomi paused, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Your orders, Mrs. Daidouji?"

"Oh, alright, I'm coming."She finally decided that the guest was important enough. She pushed herself up from the ground and walked to the door at the other end of the room.

Before she left, she turned back to give her daughter one last glance and a taunting flying kiss. Her clicking heels echoed down the hallway as Moshu locked the door again.

Tomoyo was alone once more.

Eriol leaned back on the soft, crimson velvet. Really, Sonomi was TOO rich. He was in the lounge and yet it looked like he was in the lobby of some huge and famous hotel. A huge mirror was placed above giant double doors; its glass encompassed by a delicate wooden frame with beautiful intricate carvings depicting phrases from the Bible. He didn't know that Sonomi was such a devout Catholic. Or was it Christian?

The doors opened, revealing a tall, slender Sonomi dressed in a mauve gown which looked like it cost five thousand dollars in total. She stepped into the lavishly furnished room; maids followed behind her, two carrying trays of- were they napkins? And another came in pushing a cart filled with delicious, desirable goodies.

"Eat all you want," Sonomi said in her sing-song voice. She sat down on the opposite of him, crossing her long, slim legs tanned from her five week holiday in Hawaii. Eriol sat up straighter, feeling that he'd to look his best in front of her.

"You said... you've got a present for me?" he questioned, as a blonde maid poured some piping hot tea into the small china cup which the other maid had given him earlier. Sonomi nodded, taking a bite from a slice of cheesecake.

"You like to kill, don't you? I found a thief among my workers last week," Sonomi declared, disgust showing on her face. "You're free to do anything you want with her. Kill, reprimand... you can even satisfy your sexual urges with her..."

Eriol didn't wince at her straightforwardness, neither did he seem to care about her crude manner of speaking. "You said you'd pay me if I...?"

"Well, if you kill her, I WILL pay you a handsome sum. If you don't, well, she's still a present from me," Sonomi shrugged uncaringly.

Eriol wondered if Sonomi had ever felt compassion before. During the time that he'd known her, he'd never seen her show sympathy or empathy to anybody. It was as if she had stopped caring about everything and anything. The world didn't matter to her anymore. He got up from the chair and made his way to the stairs. "Well, let's go see who she is then, shall we?"

Sonomi looked haughtily at his indifferent attitude. He was somebody who had skills almost as great as hers. But that was not the present problem.

"Let's go."

A/N: I know I know. You are very confused so far. Well, wait for the next chapter then, and don't forget to REVIEW! Flames are soooo welcome, too.