“Hunter or The Hunted”
Chapter 5


Christine and Fararello spin around to see Aya standing a few steps behind them as he stood there holding the needle Christine left for him last night to bring back to her today.

“Aya that was not nice of you to say that about Fararello you do not even know him.” Christine says as she narrows her eyes at him. Aya starts to move toward them as Fararello steps between them.

“Stop! We do not need a fight here in front of the church…. Aya I suggest you back down you cannot beat Fararello.” Christine tells him.

“What are you doing with him?” Aya asks her.

“Fararello and I have been friend’s way before ESAT Aya. You do not just dump your friends because of your career choice.” Christine tells him.

“He is a killer Christine do you know that?” Aya says.

Christine looks around at the people as they look toward Aya, her and Fararello from what Aya told her. Christine takes Fararello’s hand and starts walking back down the church stairs. Fararello looks at Christine as he says, “Let me take care of him here and now Christine you’ll never have to deal with him again.”

Christine shakes her head as they walk along as she hears Aya call out, “Stop Christine…”

Just then Christine feels Aya grab her arm stopping her as Fararello goes toward him they hear, “FARARELLO!!”

Christine, Aya and Fararello look toward the voice as they see Brad and Schuldich standing there. Fararello stops dead in his tracks just before he grabs Aya.

“Here is not the place for this and you know it.” Schuldich says walking toward them as he takes Aya’s hand from Christine’s arm.

Schuldich releases Aya’s hand as he chuckles Schuldich looks at Aya saying, “You and everyone else Aya... take a number.” Aya was shocked at what Schuldich said as he steps back from him.

Schuldich looks at Fararello as he says, “Lets go we have a job to do.”

Fararello looks at Aya as he smiles an evil smile at him, Aya just glares back. Fararello steps down in front of Christine as he turns quickly and kisses Christine on the cheek he says, “How about a rain check on that lunch date?”

Christine had her hand on her cheek where Fararello kissed her as she was in shock from what he did. Christine nods as Fararello turns chuckling he walks away from her.

Schuldich shakes his head looking at Fararello as he walked toward Brad. Schuldich then looks back at Christine as their eyes meet he says, “You know he still ceases to amaze me sometimes.”

Schuldich leans in and gives Christine a kiss on the other cheek saying, “We will see you later sweetie.”

Schuldich takes off after Brad and Fararello as they walk away. Schuldich turns around as he was walking he calls back, “Oh Aya be on your best, because if you hurt Christine in anyway. It is not Fararello that will be coming after you.”

Schuldich turns back as Aya looks at Christine he narrows his eyes at her as he says in an angered tone, “You know Schwartz?!”

“I refuse to talk about this here Aya. If you want to talk you will come with me.” Christine tells him walking away from him back to her car.

Aya did not follow at first as he looks out watching her walk away. He looks down as he saw the needle she left for him to find last night he was still holding it in his hand. He looks back up not seeing her anywhere. Aya runs down the stairs as he looks around for her he saw her down the street walking around her car to get in it.

Aya took off running after her as he draws closer he called out, “Christine wait a minute I will go with you.” Aya steps up to the car as he opened the door and climbed in with her. Christine starts the car and they drive away.

Christine picks up her phone as she calls Stacey. Stacey does not answer as she leaves her a message. “Stacey I am sorry I could not make it to lunch today with you guys something came up.” Christine looks over at Aya as he is looking out his window, she finishes off the message, “I will see you back at the house tonight and do not worry I have not forgotten Jen’s parent teacher meeting… Later.”

Aya looks over at Christine as she sits down her phone she looks at Aya as their eyes meet she says, “What do you want Aya?”

Christine looks out at the road as she hears Aya say, “I want to know about this Sacred Hearts you have been chasing after for the last 6 year and how and why, you know, and are still hanging around Schwartz when you know what they are?”

Christine looks at Aya as she asks him, “Is that all…I only have until 1:45 which is an hour to tell you about all that… I need more time Aya. What are you doing after 3:30 today?”

“I will be at the flower shop, why?” Aya says.

“I have to go to this parent teacher meet of Jen’s I am sure it should not take more then 15 to 30 minutes. Jen is an excellent student so there is really nothing to talk about when it comes to her it is more of a here is her report on her grads type thing.” Christine tells him.

“Fine and after that you will meet me at the flower shop?” Aya barked as he looked at her.

Christine nods not taking her eyes from the road she says, “Schwartz gave me more information on them last night.”

“Was this the almighty important date you had last night?” Aya asks her.

Christine nods as she says, “With what they told me Aya I think we will finally be able to bring them down once and for all.”

Christine looks at Aya her eyes sincere as she says, “But I am going to need your help and maybe even Schwartz.”

Aya’s eyes widen as he exclaims, “There is no way I am working with that group of assholes.”

Christine looks at Aya shaking her head she says, “You know Aya it is not what is inside us that makes us what we are…” Aya looks at Christine confused as she looks away and continues, “It is what we do that defines us.”

Aya growls as he looks away from her out his window Christine hears him say, “I am a killer Christine just like you. There is nothing more to define about you or me.”

“But why do you kill Aya?” Christine asks him still watching the road.

Aya quickly looks back at her as he barks, “WHY DO YOU KILL?!”

Without looking at Aya Christine says, “I kill to protect the ones I love and the innocents of this world.”

Christine pulls back in front of the church and parks the car. She looks over at Aya he looks away from her again. Aya hears Christine as she says, “You bare a cross around your neck and you use it as a symbol for Weiss. Do you believe in God and what he stands for or is it just something to hide behind and it makes you feel better about what you do?”

Aya looks sharply at Christine as he exclaims, “Do not sit there and judge me you are no better with the cross you bare around your neck. Do you think by going to pray to God everyday asking him to forgive you for the people you kill every night he is going to forgive you?!”

“Yes I do…” Christine says calmly and full of confidence not breaking eye contact with him.

The look in Aya’s eyes becomes shocked as he sits there not saying a word as Christine says, “I believe God will forgive me and I believe what a good friend told me as well, God gives everyone a path to follow and… he has given us this path to follow. If we are a necessary evil he made us what we are and when the time comes to stand before him to be judged, I believe he will be lenient on us for what we have done in our life.”

Aya looks at Christine his eyes are soft and caring he can barely believe the faith that Christine has he reaches toward her he picks up her cross around her neck. As it lays across his fingers he looks down on it as he says, “Do you really believe that Christine, do you really believe God will forgive us for what we have done?” Christine places her hand over the cross and Aya’s as she softly squeezes she nods.

Aya sighs as he says, “I wish I had your faith Christine.”

Aya release her necklace and breaks free of her hand as he turns getting from the car he closes the door and slides his hands into his pockets as he walks away from the car. Christine sits there as she watches Aya walk away and disappear in the crowd. Christine looks down in the seat Aya was sitting in as she saw her needle she left for Aya to bring to her.


Later that day Christine pulls up in front of the flower shop as she saw Omi walk out with an arm full of flowers, she gets out of her car and walks toward him. Omi goes to place the flowers in the delivery cart as he drops a bouquet of them on the ground.

Christine bends down picking them up as she smells them Omi turns to pick them up as he sees her he exclaims, “Christine!!” Ken and Yohji hear Omi as they head outside.

“Christine what are you doing here?” Yohji and Ken asked her at the same time as they walk over to her.

Christine hands the flowers back to Omi as she smiles she looks at the guys as she says, “Well hello to you all as well.”

They start to chuckle as Ken says, “Hello Christine it is good to see you again.”

“Yes I thought after last night we would only be seeing you on missions.” Yohji says as he held out his hands that were bandage.

Christine gets a shocked look on her face reaching from them taking them in hers as she says, “Yohji which one of the girls did you get to meet last night?”

Yohji chuckles as he says, “Stacey and I have to say she is good with that whip of hers.”

Christine looks at Ken and then Omi as Omi says, “We did not have the honors to meet any of the others last night.” Christine looks at Ken as he shakes his head.

Christine chuckles as she says, “Well I am glad you did not get to hurt Yohji. Stacey can be pretty ruthless when she wants to be.”

“Aww only my pride and that will heal next time I beat her.” Yohji says.

Christine laughs as she says, “That’s it Yohji never admit defeat.”

Christine looks over at Ken as she says, “So tell me where is that ornery red head you all know and love so much.”

Ken laughs as he says, “I am not so sure about the love part so much, but he is not here, why?”

“Yeah he left around noon to go meet you like you told him to and he has not been back since. Didn’t you meet with him Christine?” Omi asks her.

Christine gets an odd look on her face as she says, “Yes I did… We talked a little but I had to go to Jen’s parent teacher meeting at 2. I told him I would meet him back here after 3:30. I wonder why he is not here.”

“Because I had some thinking I needed to do.” Aya says as he walks up to them from across the street.

They all look at Aya as he steps up on the sidewalk he smiles as he says, “I was thinking about what you told me earlier today and you are right and we…or at least I will help you anyway I can to stop Sacred Hearts.”

“Help… How? You can count me in if you need help Christine.” Yohji says.

“Me too… If it means getting one more bad guy off the streets I am in as well.” Ken says.

Omi nods as Christine smiles as she says, “Thank you guys it means a lot to me, but you do not know what you are in for or who else you maybe working with.”

“What does it matter if you know them they have to be a group of alright guys… or girls?” Ken says.

“It is Schwartz…” Aya says calmly.

“WHAT!!” Ken yells.

“SCHWARTZ!!” Yohji exclaims.

“Christine!!” Omi replies, “You know those guys?”

“I have known Schwartz since I very young and I have known Brad since I was 6.” Christine tells them.

The guys calmer with one another as Aya chimed in saying, “You do not have to join us, but I am going to help Christine how ever I can.”

The guys look at Aya as Yohji says,“Did you forget what Brad did to you Aya?”

“What they all have done to us.” Ken says angered. Ken looks at Christine as he says, “I cannot believe you are friends with that bunch of killers!!”

“We are all killers Ken… We all fight for what we believe in and try to make it become reality be it right or wrong, we are not the one to decide that. It still does not change that they are my friends and always will be. I understand how you feel toward them they have done a lot of wrong things in their life, but haven’t we all?” Christine tells him.

“Well yeah but…” Ken says as he pause not sure what to say next.

“I do not expect you to join us if you do not want to, but if you have a change of heart you can come with Aya tonight to our home so we can go over what I have found out.” Christine tells them.

Omi looks at Christine and then Aya as he says, “If Aya is in I am in. I will be there tonight with him.”

Christine nods as she asks, “Are you sure Omi?” Omi nods as he looks at Ken and Yohji.

Ken shakes his head and Yohji looks away from them, Christine sighs she says, “I understand and I will not hold it against you for your choice.”

“So what time do you want us there Christine?” Aya asks her.

Christine looks at Aya as she says, “Well you guys close at 8 and as far as I know from what Nagi told me we are not getting sent out on a mission tonight. So if you like you and Omi can stop by after you get cleaned up. We will fix you dinner so no need to eat.”

Christine looks at Ken and Yohji as she says, “I know you two do not want to be part of what we are doing, but if you would like to come by for dinner with them you are welcome as well.”

“Wait you said Nagi told you, you were not getting sent out on mission. How would he know?” Omi asks her.

Christine chuckles as she says, “Schwartz is now part of Kritiker Omi and has been now for about a year from what I found out today when I got into Kritiker’s Assassin files.”

Ken, Yohji, Omi and Aya’s eyes look like they were going to bug out of their heads when Christine told them that she chuckles, “You really need to stop following the rules so much so you can stay on top of who you are fighting with and against.”

“We will see you tonight Christine.” Aya tells her after he gets over his shock of the news.

Christine smiles once more as she turns walking to her car she heard Aya say, “Christine tell me one thing before you go?”

Christine opened her car door as she says, “What is that Aya?”

“Tell me how Schuldich knew what I was thinking today?” Aya asks her.

Christine chuckles as she starts to get in her car she tells him, “Schuldich is a telepathic.”

“And what about the others?” Aya calls out.

Christine rolls down her window as she says, “I will tell you everything you want to know tonight Aya.” Christine waves at them as she drives off.


Back at the Dragonfly home we find Christine, Stacey, and Susie in the kitchen as Christine is chopping vegetables for their dinner.

“I sure am glad you decided to order out Chris.” Susie says handing Stacey a handful of silverware.

“I am just glad ESAT’s paying for it.” Stacey says as she sets up the table with everything they need.

Christine chuckles saying, “If they knew who we were entertaining they would not be paying for it.”

Christine looks at Susie as she asks, “Did you get those files scanned and on my lap?”

“Sure did have it all in a file for you.” Susie says sitting the plates on the table.

“What about the map of the compound?” Stacey asks.

Susie shakes her head as she says, “It was too big to do anything with so I thought when dinner was over we would spread it out on the table so we can get a good view of it.”

“Thanks Sus and that will work with the map. Now as long as Brandon does not show up tonight we should be in the clear for this little meeting we got going down tonight.” Christine says still chopping vegetables.

Jen walks in as she says, “Brandon has a date tonight so he will not be stopping by anytime soon.”

They all look at Jen as she walks over to the counter where Christine is she picks up some of the tomatoes Christine was chopping and pops them in her mouth as Stacey asks ,“And how do you know this?”

“He came by today while CC was at the parent teacher meeting. He wanted to talk to her, he told me then.” Jen says grabbing another hand full of vegetables.

“Stop it Jen we are not going to have enough if you keep doing that…” Christine slapped the back of Jen’s hand, “What did he want to talk to me about.”

“Not sure…” Jen said shrugging her shoulders, “But it must not have been too important.”

“Why do you say that Jen?” Susie asks.

“Because Brandon was not mad or in a panic like he usually is when he says he needs to talk to CC.” Jen replies.

“I thought Brandon was always mad or in a panic when it came to Christine if he needed to talk to her or not.” A voice says walking into the kitchen.

The girls turn seeing Schuldich walk in with Brad, Nagi and Fararello in tow. Susie and Jen squeal as they run toward them giving them hugs Christine smiles as she walks toward Stacey seeing she is not really happy Christine sets her hand on Stacey’s shoulder as she says softly, “It is not their fault alone.”

Stacey looks up at Christine from her seat as she says, “I know it is not, it just made it easier to blame them because they were not on our side.” Stacey says.

Schuldich walks up to Christine and Stacey as he holds out his arms to Stacey for a hug. Stacey looks at him for a few minutes and gets to her feet giving him a hug Schuldich and her hug as he says, “You’re still mad at us.” He leans back some looking at Stacey as they smile.

Stacey says, “I am slowly getting over that.”

Christine chuckles as she looks at Schuldich saying, “By the way did you guys forget how to knock?”

“Knock?! Why would family knock?” Nagi exclaims.

Jen giggles as she grabs Fararello around the waist Fararello’s arms caught in her hug Jen was giving him. Fararello looks down on Jen with a bewildered look on his face as Christine says, “Will you give the poor child a hug Faf she missed you guys.”

Fararello looks up at Christine and then back at Jen as he places his hands on Jen’s shoulders he says,“Go away child you bother me.” Fararello sits her down in the chair behind her.

The group laughs as Fararello takes a seat at the table as well. Christine chuckles going back to the counter to finish the vegetables, everyone went their own way as she finished up Brad walked up to Christine turning and leaning against the counter next to Christine. Brad picks up a couple of chucks of the tomato and pops them in his mouth as he says, “Are they going to be here?”

Christine looks over at him as she says, “Aya and Omi are in, Ken and Yohji are still undecided. I am hoping they change their minds I would like to have all of Weiss involved not just two of them.”

“Well you have the smartest one and the strongest one at least.” Schuldich says as he walks back into the kitchen folding his arms over his chest. Christine turns looking at Schuldich as Brad chuckles.

Just then a knock came at the door Schuldich turns looking out in the living room seeing no one in the room he then looks toward the door as he says, “I guess I will get that no one seems to be in here but us.”

Schuldich walks toward the front door opening it. He gets a huge smile across his face as he sees Aya and the others standing there Schuldich props himself against the edge of the door saying, “Well Abyssinian, Bombay, Siberian, and Balinese. What a surprise to see you all here I was told it was only going to be Abyssinian and Bombay. Come in… Come in, Christine is in the kitchen finishing up. If you like you can make your way in to see her or just take a seat here and wait for her to come to you.”

Yohji gives Schuldich a dirty glare as he says, “Don’t think all has been gotten Mastermind, we are here for Christine.”

“Well that makes the majority of us then, because we all are here for Christine isn’t that right Aya?” Schuldich says.

Aya turns slightly as he looks at Schuldich narrowing his eyes at him he turns back walking into the kitchen, when Aya enters he saw Brad standing next to Christine as they talked, Brad looks over at him as he says, “Aya… it is good to see you here.”

“I wish I could say the same for you Crawford.” Aya says. Brad starts walking toward Aya as he smiles a malevolent smile.

Nagi walks in behind Aya as he says, “Well it is good to see all of Weiss is in on this.”

Christine turns wiping her hands on a towel as she says, “Ken and Yohji are only here for dinner Nagi they where still undecided when I left them today.”

Aya looks at Christine as he says, “No they are in.”

Christine smiles as she says, “That’s great to hear Ran, but please tell me they are hear because they want to be and not because someone told them they were coming.”

“They came of their own free will.” Aya says.

Christine smiles as she nods she turns going back to her chopping. Brad, Nagi and Aya exchange a few not so nice looks as Christine says, “Brad… Nagi could you leave me and Ran to talk.”

Brad not breaking eye contact with Aya says, “We will be right out back with the others Chris.” Nagi walks out first as Brad follows him.

“What is with those guys?” Aya says watching them walk across the back yard to the others.

“They are good guys Ran and you will soon see that once I can get you and the others over your anger toward them.” Christine tells him not turning around.

Aya looks toward her he starts walking toward the counter as Christine exclaims, “OUCH!!”

Aya picks up his pace when he gets next to her he saw she had cut her thumb with the knife she was using to chop vegetables.

“Looks like you got it good you need a bandage on it so it will stop bleeding.” Aya says holding her hand in his.

Aya turns on the water as he places his and her hand under the running water, Christine slightly pulls her hand back cringing as Aya says, “I know it stings, but you need to wash it out…” Aya looks up at her as he says, “Where can I find a bandage for you?”

“In the bathroom above the sink in the cabinet there is an ointment cream in there as well.” Christine tells him.

“And the bathroom is where?” Aya asks her.

“Down the hall… the second door to the left.” Christine tells him.

Aya nods as he walks from the kitchen Christine leaves her hand under the running water when Aya walks back into the kitchen. Christine had a surprised look on her face as she exclaims, “That was quick.”

“Your bathroom cabinet was in great order it was easy to find.” Aya tells her.

Christine chuckles as she says, “I wish my life was in as good of order as it is.” Aya smiles at her taking her hand from under the water he dries it off.

Christine stands there watching him doctor her as Aya soon says, “There we go… Good as new.”

Christine chuckles as she smiles at Aya she replies, “Thank you Ran.”

“Not a problem I am going to go put this back.” Aya tells her lifting the ointment.

Christine turns going back to the chopping as Aya walks back in the kitchen he walks up behind Christine as she heard him laugh he says, “Are you chopping them or killing them?”

Aya asks her stepping up behind her taking her hands into his he tells her, “You may be a master swordsman… but you suck with a kitchen knife.”

Christine looks over her shoulder at him as she says in sarcastic tone, “Gees Thanks Ran…”

Aya laughs as he moves his hand over Christine’s better gripping it and the knife she held, Christine could feel the heat of Aya’s body against hers as his slow steady heart beat was keeping time with hers. Christine started to feel her temperature rise as she heard Aya say.



Hunter or The Hunted Chapter 6