Disclaimer: I don't own CCS...

Cadence of Freedom

Chapter I: The Dream

Blood drained from her face, breathing ragged and shallow as her hands came up to cover her neck, as if doing so would help her regain her composure. She was scared, for the second time in her life, she was actually scared. It has happened only once, when she thought that she would lose her best friend and cousin forever. Panicked, she tried to tear her eyes away from the apparition before her. It was like her body was there but here mind was elsewhere. Her heartbeat sped twice, thrice, she was sure that she'd be soon dead from heart attack. Turning to run away from the horrific being inching towards her, she suddenly fell with a loud 'thud!'.

When she opened her eyes again after her fall, she realized her surroundings had changed. Blinking rapidly, her mind disoriented, she tried to calm herself, she was breaking cold sweat. After a moment she realized she was in her own bedroom, the loud thud sound was actually her falling off her bed.

'A dream, huh… But it felt so real…'

She frowned at her reflection on her balcony window, which was adjacent to her bed. Walking towards it, she went out to breathe in the fresh morning air. The sun was just beginning to rise out of the horizon. Stretching, she went back in her room and began to freshen up. She did not have anything on that day, but she didn't feel like sleeping again. Recalling her dream sent chills down her spine, the same dream has been plaguing her for almost two weeks already, but only now was she able to clearly see the face of the apparition. She felt sick just recalling its appearance, they way it called to her... It was beginning to make her worry that it would affect her performance in managing their business.

She was Tomoyo Daidouji, daughter of Sonomi Daidouji of the Daidouji Toys Inc. By now, she has her own business, with Sakura as the partner of course. They owned a haute couture which was popular among women and men of all ages. She would usually be preparing her breakfast by now, but since Sakura was out for her honeymoon… She smiled gently at the thought as she reminisced the joyous event which took place just the day before.

Sakura and their long-time friend, Syaoran, had been dating since their 5th grade in elementary, much to Touya, Sakura's brother's chagrin. At their senior year in high school, they announced their engagement, and finally they got married two months after graduating from college. Almost all their friends from Tomoeda Gakuen had already settled down, Chiharu with Yamazaki, Rika with Terada-sensei, Naoko with her editor, Shirokami. Now she was the only one left single, unattached even. All her friends were bewildered by this as she was one of the most eligible bachelorettes of her time. It was not that she did not want to be in a relationship, she did long for it from time-to-time, but with what had happed to her in the past…

'If I had only…'

Sakura and Syaoran were the only people aware of that incident which almost broke her spirit.

'Now it's too late… If I had only…'

Shaking her head, she forcibly removed the melancholic thoughts and began directing her focus on her planned activities for the day… or rather, the lack of it. Now that Sakura was out, her newest project was left hanging. She after all, needed the main model to fill up the clothes before taking a picture of its patent and legalizing ownership of its design. Checking her designing materials, she realized she was running short of wool. It was especially essential during the upcoming season as not only would it be the beginning of autumn, their upcoming clothes theme would be based on a home-made feel, 'fluffy and soft' as Sakura termed it.

Finally finding something to do, she got dressed and shortly after, left on her silver sedan for the fabric warehouse. One might think it weird that the owner herself goes off to buy the materials, but that was just the way Tomoyo wanted it. She was after all, designing it for her beloved cherry blossom, so only the best materials which she has tried would satisfy her.

Unbeknownst to our heroine, a pair of steel, cold eyes watched her every move, from the time she went to her balcony, to when she left for the store. As her car drove into the emerging light, a black sedan slowly began trailing her… As a predator would to its chosen prey.


Author's notes: My first published fic... Hope you've enjoyed it! :)

I'm using this story as a way of practicing my english compo since we don't have formal english classes in poly... So reviews and conctructive criticisms are much welcome! ;)