Chapter Seven
Chaos Theory

Sakura approached her house, finally, after Tomoyo had spent nearly half an hour examining her for injuries after the near miss with the car. She had even offered to walk Sakura all the way home and put her to bed. Tomoyo only reluctantly let up after Sakura insisted she was fine for the billionth time.

Sakura walked up the short fight of steps in the front yard with her head down and rubbing the crook of her left arm. It was kind of tingling where Syaoran Reed had grabbed her. It didn't hurt exactly, but it was weird the way that she could still feel his hand on her arm. She tried to rub the feeling away, but it only seemed to make the sensation more intense.

"Hey kaijuu. You're late getting home."

Sakura's head snapped up from the pavement to see Touya leaning against the oak tree in the front lawn. His eyes were narrowed and his arms were crossed tightly over his chest. He was looking at her as if he'd just caught her skipping school.

"Onii-chan…" Sakura mumbled, forgetting to be mad at him for once. "Don't you have to be at work?"

He shrugged and tilted his head to take some of the pressure out of his gaze. "I have a few minutes." He let his words hang in the air while the birds chirped in the trees overhead.

Touya had some kind of weird big brother radar that could detect when Sakura got herself into trouble. He was always the first one to notice when she was getting sick or when she got hurt. In fifth grade, Sakura fell down during PE and sprained her ankle. Touya showed up fifteen minutes later to pick her up, even though no one had called him. At the time, Sakura had been very grateful that he had that uncanny intuition…

"Anything interesting happen today?" Touya asked, looking at Sakura sideways.

"Not really," Sakura said after only a moment of hesitation. She continued up the steps to the house.

Touya turned back to look at her directly. His brown eyes smoldered and he pursed his upper lip slightly.

About that radar… It also never failed to detect when she was lying.

Sakura couldn't explain exactly why she wanted to keep the accident a secret, but it had something to do with the fact that if she explained the story, then she'd have to explain who Syaoran was. And for some reason, she didn't want to do that.

"Fine then," Touya said, climbing onto his bike. "I'll be home around eight. See ya."

"Bye," Sakura said, smiling warmly to show him that she really was okay, despite what he may think. "I'll put dinner in the fridge for you."

He road off without giving a second glance to Sakura. To most people it would seem like he was angry, but Sakura had grown to recognize the subtle gradient between anger and defeat in Touya's manner. When it was plain that Sakura didn't want to talk about something, he usually gave up quickly. It was his way of balancing out the control. He could always tell when something was wrong with Sakura – whether she be hurt, sick, or just lying – but he always made a point never to abuse the instinct. If Sakura didn't feel like elaborating on a point of her life, he never forced her to do so. It was Touya's subtle, offhand way of letting Sakura know that he respected her ability to think for herself. Somehow, in a very indirect and indistinct way, Sakura knew that Touya trusted her to make her own decisions.

However, as Sakura walked into the house and up to her room, she wondered just how much she trusted herself and her own feelings.

For instance, despite the fact that her father and Touya were out for the day, the house seemed somehow… empty. Well, not empty, exactly. More like something was missing.

Sakura had tried to find out what was wrong. It was as if someone had subtly rearranged the furniture in the house without telling her, but she could still tell that something had changed. Her father had insisted that he hadn't moved anything, but the feeling still nagged at Sakura. It nagged way more than it should. And when Sakura had asked Touya about it, he had replied in a way that made it seem like he knew more than she did.

"Now that you mention it," he had said, his eyes getting small and darting around the room. "It is missing, isn't it? I wonder where it went…"

Sakura had tried to press him for more information, but he just put his hand on her head and said, "You wouldn't be able to handle it."

She stomped down hard on his foot then, but it didn't help anything. She finally came to the conclusion that Touya was just pulling her chain. He did that a lot, but she wished he wouldn't joke about this one thing.

The emptiness almost… hurt.

Syaoran sighed from his seat on the bench in the park, willing the sun to go down faster. For the past several hours, he had been pacing back and forth in front of the penguin slide, but that really didn't help matters very much. The people who passed by tended to stare at him when he paced like that. It was better just to sit still and avoid the uncomfortable gazes. He found when he sat still, people ignored him.

The events of the accident ran over and over in his mind. He kept seeing the woman who had pushed Sakura into the road. He hadn't seen her face – it all happened too fast – but the presence of her aura was burned into his memory.

Auras can't be described in the usual sense. They don't have colors or a temperature. They don't have a scent and they don't make noises. The only way to describe an aura without witnessing it yourself is through synesthesia; that is, to express one sensation in terms of another. To Syaoran, the woman's aura reminded him of a tiny wave that cascaded into infinity to become a tsunami, or the first crack that appears in a stained glass window that causes the entire thing shatter violently under its own pressure. And even that wasn't exactly right. The aura wasn't the wave or the crack. It was what causes the wave and the crack.

Chaos. A sudden gust of wind that scatters a stack of carefully organized papers. The one tiny screw on an otherwise perfectly barren road placed in just the right position to cause a flat tire. The unloaded gun that, for some inexplicable reason, had one more bullet left inside…

The aura had turned one brief moment and seemingly innocent gesture into a potential untimely and unexpected end. Even though Syaoran had been waiting and watching just for that one moment, the situation had still blindsided him. Had he hesitated just one moment longer-

Syaoran shook his head violently as if to shake the thought out of his mind. It was just wasting energy to dwell on situations that never happened. He had, in fact, saved Sakura. Nothing would change that.

Syaoran half hoped that Chaos only had a one-time shot at Sakura. Was there any chance that Chaos would give up after failing? What were the odds that he had interfered enough to change Sakura's fate?

This was only one of the reasons why Syaoran needed to talk to Yue so desperately.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Syaoran felt the release of his spirit as the sun melted into the horizon. He felt the tendrils of a presence behind him, so he turned around, expecting no one else but Yue.

But in the seconds that it took to turn and think for only an instant, Syaoran knew that this presence was not Yue's. It was like an over-filled tire, a misguided bullet, or a horde of stampeding animals.

It was exactly like being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Chaos.

She was taller than the average human female with huge, glossy butterfly wings flared behind her. They were like Spinal Sun's, only they were garnet instead of blue. She stood with one hand on her hip and her perfect figure cocked to the side. It was kind of like what Yue did sometimes, only on the opposite side. She had huge, focused scarlet eyes that were flecked with black. Her hair was put up in two fist-sized balls on top of her head with the rest of her long hair flowing down her back and a few tufts framing her face. Her tiny mouth was pulled back in a childish smirk.

"What's wrong kiddo?" she said, her voice like shattered glass. "Expecting someone else?"

Syaoran simply glared. "Where's Yue?"

"Oh, I'm sure he's around here somewhere. But because of your weakened metaphysical state, you two won't be able to converse until sunrise. That's his time, you know. That's the only time you can see him."

Syaoran let the silence hang in the air. He wasn't exactly sure what he should say. It seemed like an unwise idea to push the conversation along himself. He wondered exactly how much information he could get if he just let her talk.

"Sunset is our time," the woman said after a few moments of silence. Her voice sounded childish and playful. "Mine and Suppi-chan's."

"Suppi?" Syaoran repeated, resisting the urge to curl his lip in disgust. It sounded like some ridiculous name that a child would call their pet.

"You know him better as Spinal Sun, the Beast of the Cycle," she said, her smile reaching into her eyes. "And what about me? You already know who I am, right?"

Syaoran narrowed his gaze so much that he could barely see out of his eyes. "You're Chaos."

"Very good kiddo! I prefer to be called Ruby Moon, but Chaos is hitting the nail in the coffin," the woman said, putting her hands behind her back and beaming. "I told Suppi-chan that you were smart."

Syaoran didn't know what to say to that, so he let the silence hang again. Ruby Moon's smirk widened.

"Well," she said. "Don't you have something to say to me? You're so eager to talk to Yue, but perhaps I can help out as well. I've been around just as long as he has."

"I don't have anything to say to you," Syaoran said, not able to stop himself.

"Aw, I'm hurt. I really am," she said, not looking hurt at all. "I'm just doing my job kiddo. It's nothing I can really help. Of course, I do enjoy my job immensely, but that doesn't mean we have to hate each other."

"You enjoy killing people?" Syaoran asked.

"Well, my job doesn't always involve killing people," Ruby Moon said, flicking some of her long garnet hair over her shoulder. "But when it does, things get interesting. Usually things aren't this interesting, but normal, everyday disasters get boring."

Syaoran could do nothing but glare. He wished he could just walk away and not have to talk, but Sakura's future depended on his conversation with Chaos. He had to stay.

"Will you give up now?" Syaoran asked. This was the million-dollar question. "You failed once already. And no matter how many times you try again, I'll make sure that you always fail."

Ruby Moon shook her head, the smirk on her face reaching into her eyes. "I won't stop until my job is done. In fact, the next part of my brilliant plan is already underway. You can't keep me away forever, kiddo."

"It doesn't have to be forever," Syaoran said. "Just until I'm gone."

Ruby Moon looked like she was going to burst into wild laughter. "You really think you can keep me from doing my job? Granted that you aren't a normal human being, but you can't possibly think there's something you can accomplish that a normal human being couldn't. No one can stop fate."

"Usually no one knows what fate has in store for a person though," Syaoran said carefully, trying his best to sound intimidating. "But I do. I know what your goal is. I know who you're after. That's why I have a better chance of stopping you than any normal human being."

Ruby Moon shook her head and chuckled a bit. "And let's say you succeed. Just for argument, let's say somehow you stop me and Sakura Kinomoto never has to die. Then what? You two live happily ever after? I don't think so. You'll suddenly disappear from her life. Of course, you're going to disappear no matter what the outcome, so why not let Sakura come with you? Why not die together? Then you wouldn't have to be alone."

Syaoran was already dead and he'd rather stay lonely. He didn't want to tell Ruby Moon this, though. Personal feelings such as these only made a bad situation worse. "I understood the sacrifice I had to made to do what I did. It's my pain only. No one should have to suffer because of me." Syaoran studied Ruby Moon's expression carefully as he finished the sentence. How she reacted would show just how much she knew about the situation.

Her eyes seemed to un-focus. Was that confusion? Syaoran's aura flared. What could she possibly have to be confused about?

"Oh yeah!" Ruby Moon exclaimed as the weight began to fall onto Syaoran again. "I almost forgot. Suppi-chan wants me to give you a message."

She cleared her throat and when she spoke again, she was imitating Spinal Sun's deep, rumbling voice.

"Do not attempt to correct your own mistake by tampering further with the Cycle. Harsher measures will be necessary if you continue your reckless interference. The most effective solution to the disruption has been found and is already being carried out. Any further disorder will be met with severe consequences."

Syaoran glared at Ruby Moon as she began to fade away. She waved as if to say, "See you around," and then disappeared from sight completely as all the pressure came back on Syaoran. The sun had set.

Syaoran made his way back on the bench by the courtyard clock and sat down heavily. He draped his arms over the back of the bench and tilted his head to the sky to watch the stars blink into existence one by one. The streetlights flickered on, filling the air with a slight buzzing noise.

There was so much to think about that Syaoran simply cleared his head and refused to dwell on any one thought. He resolved to take things as they came. That's what Yue would suggest. The situation was too complicated. He couldn't simply form a plan of action because he had no idea what to expect.

But there was one thing that was certain.

No matter what the consequences – no matter how much he upset the balance – Sakura wasn't going to pay for it. It was unfair that she had to suffer for his mistake. Syaoran suddenly squeezed his eyes shut and buried his head in his hands.

What was this feeling? Why did that thought make it seem like his soul was being torn in two?

"I knew you were there, Order."

"You can drop the formalities, Ruby Moon. You sound so insincere when you're trying to be polite."

"You're such a bummer, Yue. Here I am, trying to be serious for once and you have to go ruin my fun."

"I've never known you to be serious for even a moment."

"Well, as long as we're talking about things that aren't like us, why don't we talk about your actions as of late? Such as the fact that you're playing favorites with your charges. Or that you're violating the balance you helped to create. Or that–"

"Who are you to question our methods?"

"Ah, getting defensive now, are we? This is fun, Yue! I haven't had a stir-up in our old routine in ages. Suppi-chan is practically seething with frustration and here I am, the effect coming before the cause. Usually it's Order who has to come clean up after Chaos, but now it's the other way around. I'd ask why, but I'm having way too much fun."

"I can always trust you not to ask too many questions as long as I keep you entertained."

"You know me so well. But I can't get over the fact that the kid thinks I'm a bad guy. Not that I really care, but you and Keroberos are the ones who messed this up, not me or Suppi-chan. It wasn't the kid's fault either. But it's funny. He's sitting there feeling so guilty about this situation anyway. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?"

"Sometimes deception is necessary. But then again, what I told him is not entirely a lie."

"Heh. Even I'm starting to wonder about you now, Yue. And when I start using my brainpower, you know it's bad. Just what exactly is going on in that twisted little mind of yours?"

"It doesn't really matter. The universe will take its price in the end. Just go do your job Ruby Moon. All I can do now is hope that I'm wrong about everything."

"I've never known you to be wrong, Yue."

"In that case, I'll just hope that you don't know me as well as you think you do."

Sakura hugged herself against the early morning cold, wishing she'd worn a heavier jacket. The weather was steadily transitioning from the comfortably brisk fall days into the chilly winter ones. The next good rainstorm would probably bring snow instead. Sakura grinned at the thought of Tomoeda covered in a blanket of fresh, fluffy white snow. Little towns like this were always so pretty after the first snowstorm of the year.

As she passed by the crosswalk where the accident had almost happened the day before, a shiver ran down Sakura's spine that had nothing to do with the weather. She could vividly see the white car racing toward her and feel the yank on her arm…

She kept on skating, ignoring the tingling on the crook of her arm. If she focused hard enough on the sidewalk as it went flying by, she could almost erase those intense amber eyes from her thoughts. Almost.

She skidded to a halt outside the school gates, her cheeks already flush from skating against the cool air. She glanced at her wristwatch and frowned.

Tomoyo usually waited outside for her on the days when they had morning chores together, even when Sakura was horribly late. After a few minutes of waiting, she shrugged and headed inside. It was probably just too cold for Tomoyo to wait outside this morning. She changed her shoes and headed up to the classroom. She passed a few kids in the hall, but for the most part the school was empty and eerily quiet.

The one good thing about being at school so early was that she didn't have to deal with being followed. She wondered what she would possibly say to Syaoran Reed when she saw him later that day. She had to say something, right? Well, at least that wasn't until later. She'd have the chance to talk to Tomoyo about it too. Tomoyo always knew what to say.

"Good morning Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura said, entering the room and grinning so widely that her smile forced her eyes closed. Tomoyo would get worried if she wasn't cheerful, especially the day after the accident. So she smiled brightly, letting Tomoyo know right off that she felt just fine.

"Uh… good morning," a voice that was not Tomoyo's replied awkwardly. This voice was quiet and deep. It made the crook of Sakura's arm itch.

Sakura's smile slowly faded from her face, allowing her eyes to fall open. Syaoran Reed was staring at her with a piece of chalk in one hand and a calendar in the other. He was in the middle of writing the date on the board.

"R-reed-kun?" she said, her mouth falling open. Why did it seem like the world was falling from beneath her feet when he stared at her like that? "What are you doing here?"

"Chores," Syaoran said simply, still staring. Did he ever blink?

"Where's Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura asked, brushing past Syaoran to where Terada-sensei kept the cleaning schedule. She leafed through it almost desperately.

"Sensei changed the schedule," Syaoran said, finally turning back to the board. He stepped back and studied his work with his arms at his sides. It was as if he were checking it for errors.

Sakura found her name. Sensei had indeed changed her cleaning partner from Tomoyo to Syaoran. Why hadn't Tomoyo said anything?

Sakura put down the schedule and slowly turned back to Syaoran. He was looking at the morning chore to-do list.

"Where do we get the water for the plants?" Syaoran asked, picking up the watering can by the door.

"There's a spigot in the chemistry lab next door," Sakura said. "Or you could fill it up in the bathroom."

Syaoran nodded and wandered out of the room. Sakura felt like sighing with relief. Her arm was tingling like crazy, but she ignored it. She set her things on her desk and then got the broom out of the closet.

Syaoran returned a few minutes later, lugging the watering can. He hefted it up onto the teacher's desk, spilling water everywhere.

"You didn't need to fill it up that much," Sakura said, forcing down a smile.

"I didn't?" Syaoran said, looking at the water on the floor.

Sakura shook her head. "We don't have that many plants."

Syaoran didn't say anything, but he lifted the pitcher and carefully watered the plants. He didn't spill any more water.

Sakura steeled herself. Now would be a good time. Right now.

"Um…" Sakura said to the floor quietly as she swept. "I just, you know, wanted to thank you for yesterday with the car. I don't know what would've happened if you weren't there."

"It wouldn't have happened if I wasn't there," Syaoran said. He had responded quickly, but it took him a while to get the words out.

"Huh?" Sakura said, looking up. Syaoran had his back to her while he watered the big ficus in the corner of the classroom.

"I mean," Syaoran said quickly. He turned around and stared at her. "It wasn't a big deal what I did. It's not like you could help it."

"But I guess it was pretty stupid to just fall into the road like that, huh?" Sakura said, remembering how he had called her an idiot.

"Kind of," Syaoran said, his face completely blank. Did he ever smile?

Sakura went back to sweeping.

"So when do we have to feed the sloth?" Syaoran asked after a few moments of awkward silence.

Sakura paused in mid-sweep. Se wasn't sure she had hear him right. "Sloth?"

"Takashi-kun told me about it," Syaoran said. "The one in the clock tower."

Sakura just blinked at him. "There isn't a sloth in the clock tower. At least, I don't think there's one… Sometimes it's hard to tell if Yamazaki-kun is joking or not. I get confused all the time."

"Oh," Syaoran mumbled, looking at the floor. "Well, that's a good thing I guess. Feeding a giant sloth sounded really dangerous."

Sakura giggled nervously. "Yeah. You never know with me. I would probably trip into its mouth and get eaten, right?"

"That's what I was afraid of," Syaoran said, much too seriously.

Tomoyo suppressed a squeal of delight. Sometimes Sakura was so cute, it hurt.

She had only regretted her deception for as long as it took Sakura to get up to the classroom. Her expression when she saw Syaoran Reed standing there was absolutely priceless. If she hadn't caught that face on film right at that moment, she would've regretted it for the rest of her life.

In true candid fashion, she had set up her tripod in the next classroom over with the door just slightly ajar. It was the perfect angle. From this vantage point, the widescreen lens could capture the entire room in one shot. All Tomoyo had to do was stand back and try to muffle her squeals.

"Good morning Daidouji-san," a voice said from behind her. "You're here rather early."

"Good morning Hiiragizawa-san," Tomoyo said, not needing to turn around. Eriol's presence seemed to fill up the room. Besides, she didn't want to take her eyes off her camera for even an instant. "You are here early yourself."

"You're not spying on them, are you?" Eriol said with amused tone. He took a peak into the room.

"Spying is such a nasty word," Tomoyo replied, her eyes sparkling. "I prefer to call it a… candid documentary."

"I see," Eriol said, a shadow of a smirk crossing his face.

"Did I take your spot, Hiiragizawa-san?" Tomoyo asked, glancing at him sideways.

"We can share it," Eriol replied. He sat on the table closest to the door so he could see out the crack. "Did I miss anything?"

"I can play back the tape for you later," Tomoyo assured him.

"I can always count on you, Daidouji-san," Eriol said.

Tomoyo smiled. "Of course."

They were silent for a moment as Syaoran asked Sakura when they'd feed the giant sloth. Tomoyo and Eriol chuckled softly, beginning and ending at the same time.

"Why do you have such an invested interest in this situation, Hiiragizawa-san?" Tomoyo asked softly, slightly adjusting the focus on her camera. "My personal feelings about this matter are no secret, but I have a hard time imagining why you care. Am I missing something?"

"Let's just say that… it'll be fun while it lasts," Eriol said, a slight tone of melancholy in his voice, despite the fact that he was smiling.

"I didn't expect a straight answer," Tomoyo said, turning back to the camera.

"Have I become that predicable?" Eriol asked, pretending he was hurt by the comment.

"Just to me," Tomoyo replied offhandedly.

Syaoran hadn't realized he was supposed to have a partner during the morning chores, but when she had shown up in the doorway, it all suddenly made sense.

It was a good thing, really. He was worried about Sakura walking to school alone. Chaos had warned him that she was already implementing another plan. It could be anything. He had to stay alert and watch her closely.

For a few seconds he considered telling Sakura everything, but quickly rejected the idea. It sounded ridiculous – even in his own mind. Besides, knowing something like that was a very weighty responsibility. Syaoran felt more comfortable being the only one to have to carry the burden. Sakura shouldn't have to be bothered by it.

Sakura looked up from sweeping and caught Syaoran's eye. She bit her lip and looked like she was about to say something, but then stopped.

Syaoran hefted up the water pitcher. "I'm going to empty this out."

"I'll come with you!" Sakura yelled, a little too forcefully.

Syaoran stared. "Okay…"

She followed him out of the classroom and into the chemistry lab next door. There was a basin sink near the front of the room. Syaoran lifted the watering can into the sink. Sakura grabbed hold of one end and helped tip the pitcher so the water could empty out.

"I can do it," Syaoran said shortly. It was his fault that he had filled the can too much. Sakura shouldn't have to help him.

Sakura instantly let go of the can and left Syaoran pour the rest of the water down the sink. Sakura stood behind him, her hands behind her back.

"Reed-kun…" she said quietly. "Did I… did I offend you somehow?"

Syaoran paused. "Huh?"

"Because I'm really sorry if I did!" she practically yelled, her hands over her heart. "Whatever happened to make you hate me, I'm sure it was all a misunderstanding."

Syaoran turned around. The sunlight was streaming in through the windows behind Sakura, silhouetting her frame. Her crystalline emerald eyes were wobbling slightly as if she were about to cry, but her face was serious and determined.

What was this all about? Why in the world did she think he hated her?

"I…" Syaoran was so surprised that he had a hard time getting the words out. "I don't hate you."

There was a beat of awkward silence.

"You don't?" Sakura said, her hands falling from her chest. She looked almost… disappointed.

Syaoran shook his head slowly.

"But…" she said, recoiling backward. "But what about all the staring? Or the fact that you follow me to school and when I go home? And what about all the staring!"

"I've been staring?" Syaoran asked, feeling his aura slip a beat.

Sakura nodded frantically.

Syaoran ran a hand through his hair and looked to the side. "I didn't realize…"

But when he thought about it, it made sense. She hardly ever left his sight when he was around her. Of course, it was for a perfectly legitimate reason, but he couldn't tell her that.

"Just, you know, try blinking every once in a while," Sakura said, a little smile lighting up her face. She looked a lot better when she smiled.

Syaoran nodded. "Okay, yeah."

He had never even thought of blinking, but people did it all the time. It was just one more thing to remind him that, no matter how much he looked the part, he wasn't really human and never would be. Normally, that thought wouldn't bother him…

What was this feeling? Why did it seem like his soul was being torn in two?