“Hunter or The Hunted”
Chapter 7


The days have moved in to weeks and weeks turn into a month as. Schwartz was already set in Sacred Hearts and getting the rest of the information that their team needed to start the mission. Weiss and Dragonfly were training every night together unless they were called to a mission on that night.

Christine saw a bond that was building between Dragonfly and Weiss; the bond was a good bond as they were making friends with one another. Becoming one of the best teams Christine has come to train or even work with in her 7 years of being an Assassin, but there was something else something Christine did not like seeing and she knew it only meant trouble for them all. Christine knew it was time to take it to the next step and see what Weiss and Dragonfly could really do together as a team.

Brandon had come to Christine one day telling her that they need Dragonfly for a mission that had nothing to do with Sacred Hearts; Christine was a little hesitant at first then thought this was what she was looking for in the next step for Weiss and Dragonfly. She told Brandon they would do it she took the information from him and headed home. Once she was back home Christine told Stacey to call Weiss and have them over there as soon as they closed shop they had a mission. Christine walks from the living room to her room as the three girls followed her to her room.

“What do you mean we have a mission with Weiss?” Susie asks.

“Yeah I mean how could that be no one but Weiss, Dragonfly, and Schwartz knows about all this.” Jen says.

“How did you pull this off Chris?” Stacey asks her.

“Brandon gave us a mission for tonight it has a good size hit list on it and I thought Weiss could go help us tonight. Therefore, I can see how you guys really work as a team.” Christine tells them.

“So you took the mission so you could see how Weiss and Dragonfly was going to work together?” Susie asks.

“Well yes Sus… this is a mission Dragonfly can do on their own all we would have to do is take two hits apiece and this way if Weiss goes with us we only have one. Let me asks you something… Would you like to know now how Weiss is going to deal with having you out there with them or would you like to wait until the last minute when you know you cannot do the mission alone and Weiss not ready or even you are not ready to be working together?” Christine asks her.

“I would like to know now?” Jen says.

“Same here…” Stacey says.

“We have been training with Weiss now for the last month. I think we are all ready for this.” Susie says.

“Well tonight we will find out for definite.” Christine says.


A few hours later Weiss shows up at Dragonfly. Aya walks in seeing Christine setting on the couch looking at a file he goes straight to her side sitting next to her. Yohji, Ken, and Omi walk to the kitchen when they smell the food cooking to see what was for dinner.

“What’s going on Chris?” Aya asks her.

“A mission I want Weiss to go on with us.” Christine looks at Aya, “I think it would be good for the team so we know what to expect from one another on a real mission.”

Aya nods as he slides his arm behind Christine on the couch as they go over the file for the mission. Yohji goes to tell Aya and Christine dinner is done as he starts to walk through the kitchen door into the living room he saw Christine and Aya sitting next to one another looking at some papers Aya has his arm behind Christine resting on the couch they were sitting close to one another. Yohji turns looking at Ken as he motions for him to come here.

Ken looks Yohji’s way and then walks over to him as Ken says, “What are you doing Yohji?”

“Look… What did I tell you…” Yohji turns Ken to look out at Aya and Christine.

Christine turned looking at Aya when he asked her a question, she then leaned forward and picked up another file when her long hair slid forward around her face. She leaned back with the file and opened it looking over at Aya. Christine was fighting with her hair to keep it from her face. As Aya lifted his hand that was behind her he reached over Christine’s shoulder and gently took her long golden hair in his fingertips and moved it back over her shoulder. Aya’s fingers laced into Christine’s hair as he slowly ran his fingers through it, Christine stopped talking as she sat there looking into Aya’s eyes. Aya moved his hand from Christine’s hair to her cheek as he caresses her cheek with the back of his fingertips. They sat there looking at one another as they slowly leaned into one another.

Yohji saw it coming as Aya and Christine drew closer Ken heard Yohji say under his breath in an upset tone, “I don’t think so… If we cannot… He sure the hell is not.”

Yohji starts to move as Ken tried to grab him and stop him Yohji barged into the living room as he announces, “Dinner time you two.” Yohji walks toward them as Christine stands quickly dumping the files she had on her lap into the floor.

“Yohji you ass…” Aya says giving Yohji a dirty look.

“Yeah… I was keeping you to your word Aya. Remember what you told us the other night.” Yohji tells him.

Aya was on the floor helping Christine pick up the files as he looks up at Yohji he says, “Well I have changed my mine on that.” Aya replies.

Yohji chuckles as he says, “Oh I see the tables have turned now you know you have a chance.” Yohji says.

Christine looks at Aya and then Yohji as she says, “What are you two talking about?”

“Nothing…” Aya says looking at Yohji, “Drop it we will finish this later.” Aya hands Christine the last of the papers as they stand.

Christine walks out to the back yard she knew exactly what they were talking about she walks to the edge of the patio looking out into the garden with her arms folded over her abdomen.

A few minutes later Jen walks out from the kitchen as she says, “CC are you ok?”

Christine looks over at Jen as she smiles she replies, “Good thing Yohji walked in when he did.”

“Why do you say that CC? Aya likes you and we can all see you like him.” Jen says.

“Because Jen, feelings like what Ran and I are feeling for one another is not good to have between us it can hinder a mission and maybe even get someone killed.” Christine tells her.

“But if you act on them or not the feelings are still there, right?” Jen says.

Christine looks at Jen as she chuckles she replies, “Yes they are, but they do not become stronger between us they just set there dormant.”

“Now what fun is that?” Jen says.

Christine laughs as she says, “It is not, but working together on the same team, it is the right thing to do by not acting on them.”

“So you will be miserable in your time here to keep from being with a guy you like and maybe the love of your life.” Jen says.

Christine looks at Jen as she says, “The love of my life Jen? Ran is not the love of my life.” Christine says.

“How do you know that?” Stacey says walking toward them.

Christine looks toward Stacey as she says, “Because I know…” Christine says in an irritated tone.

“How can you know if you do not give him a chance? You know Chris I did not know Tristan but from what I have heard about him from you and Brad, Tristan would have wanted you happy…” Stacey says as Christine glares at Stacey.

“Even if it was with another guy.” Stacey added. Christine looks away from Stacey as Aya walks out with no one hearing him join them.

Christine stood there looking back out over the garden they hear her say, “I know what Tristan wanted he told me to move on, he told me to find someone that could love me as much as he did... He told me to be happy in my life and not cry for him… But I loved him so much…” Christine looks up into the night sky as a tear trickles down her cheek.

“I know you loved Tristan very much Chris, but you have your life at a stand still because you are afraid you might find someone as good or better then Tristan.” Stacey says.

“Is that why you and Sebastian broke it off?” Jen asks.

“So that is why you will not get involved with Aya is because Sebastian and Aya look a lot alike. So you are staying back from Aya so not to have to live through that again.” Stacey questions.

Christine did not say a word as another tear makes its way down her cheek. Aya touches Stacey and Jen’s shoulder he motions for them to leave him and Christine alone. In the silence, Stacey and Jen leave them there alone.

Aya walks up behind Christine as he sets his hands on Christine’s hips he says, “I do not know what you are thinking Christine, but what ever happened between you and this guy Sebastian… I promise you I am not him and I would never hurt you.”

Christine moves away from Aya quickly drying her tears as she says, “It is not that Ran. Sebastian never hurt me… it was the fact we both are Assassins for the same organization, which made it very hard on both of us to do our jobs.”

“So you and this Sebastian guy broke up because you worried about one another when you were sent on a mission?” Aya says.

Christine nods as she feels Aya behind her again he does not touch her, but he stands very close behind her she feels Aya move close to her ear as he whispers to her, “Do you still love Sebastian, Christine?”

“I never loved Sebastian, I did care for him, but I did not love him. I was with him because he asked me to be with him and I was sick of everyone telling me to move on.” Christine replies.

Aya turns Christine by her hips as their eyes meet Aya asks her, “Could you love me?”

Christine quickly starts to walk away from Aya as he grabs her arm pulling her back to him he says, “Do not avoid the question Christine, I want to know?”

Christine cast her eyes down as she tells Aya, “No Ran I do not think I could love you.”

Aya touches her chin lifting her head he looks her in the eyes and says, “Tell me that while you are looking into my eyes.” Christine looks at Aya as she stands there quite she could not tell Aya what he wanted to hear.

Aya caress her cheek as he steps toward her he takes her in his arms pulling her close to him as he whispers to her looking into her eyes, “I could love you.”

Christine moves trying to get away from Aya’s hold as he holds her closer to him, she hears him say, “Tell me Christine tell me that you feel the same for me. I can see it in your eyes that you care for me so why can’t you just tell me?”

Christine stops as she looks into Aya’s eyes as she softly says, “Because… I do not want to hurt again if I lose you as well, Ran.”

Christine hangs her head again as Aya lifts it one more time she hears him say, “I am not going any where Christine.”

Aya moves into her pulling her so close she could feel his heartbeat he slides his hand behind her head and pulls her to him and he kisses her. Christine stood there not sure, if she should kiss him back or not Aya pulls away from the kiss as he says, “I can wait until you are ready…”

Aya releases her as he turns walking away back to the house. He turns looking at her as he smiles saying, “I am not going to give up on you.” Aya opens the door to the kitchen as he walks inside leaving Christine there alone to think about what just happened.


As the night moves on closer to the mission, Christine stays her distance from Aya. When the time finally came the group gets their things, and heads out to where they need to be.

Once at location they put on their headsets and scatter surrounding the building, Christine sat atop a tree limb waiting the all clear from Jen as her and Omi work on the security and getting it down.

Just then Omi calls out, “All clear…” The group moves and heads to their assigned hit. As everything starts to end, Christine hears the calls of all clear from her other team members. Omi was the first to call back, as Christine is picking up her Kozuka blades and needles.

“Bombay all clear…” Omi says.

“Scorpio all clear…” Stacey says. After a few minutes, Christine hears Yohji and Ken.

“Siberian all clear…” Ken replies.

“Balinese all clear…” Yohji calls out. Just then, Susie and Jen call back to her.

“Thumper all clear…” Jen says with a chuckle.

“Gemini all clear here…” Susie says asking, “What so funny Thumper?”

Christine is still picking up her Kozuka blades and needles as she hears Jen say, “What a list of call ins. Good thing we do not have to leave a message.” Susie chuckles as Stacey, Ken, and Omi chuckle as well.

Christine was still waiting on Aya to call back as she heard a noise behind her Christine hid in the shadows as she whispers, “I have company…”

“It might be Abyssinian.” Stacey says.

Christine whispers, “He is the only one that has not checked in see if you can reach him or find him.” Christine stands there in silence her mind on Aya and why he had not checked in yet Christine saw a tall man enter into the room she stood there quiet and still so not to be seen by him. Christine slowly pulls a couple of needles from her wrist holder as the man moved toward her. Slowly he walks around the desk as he saw his boss on the floor dead.

The guy quickly jumps to his feet pulling a gun waving it around the room as he yells, “Where are you I know you are still in here… Show yourself now…”

Christine hangs her head shaking it as she moved quickly throwing the two needles at him catching him in his chest with them, the guy saw her jumpsuit glimmer as she moved. He pulled the needles throwing them to the floor as he started shooting like a wild man pointing and shooting at everything in the room Christine dove behind a couch in the room, but was to slow she was hit by a stray bullet in her right upper arm the bullet went straight through. Christine kneels behind the couch holding her arm in agony. She tries to slow her breathing so the guy would not hear her.

Christine could hear the others talking on the headset asking 50 questions,

“Ice are you alright…” Ken yells out.

“Did those shots come from where you are Ice?” Susie calls out.

“Ice…”

“Ice…”

“ICE… DAMN IT ANSWER US!!” Stacey screams. Christine stays quite as she hears the guy moving in the room her mind still on Aya and wondering why she has not heard his voice yet on the headset she becomes worried as she thinks,

“I have to kill this guy and find Aya what if he is hurt?”

She pulls two blades from her Wakazashi as she rolls over to her back on the floor waiting for him to show his self to her. Just as she gets to her back the guy lunges from around the couch at her she throws the two blades one catches his hand and the other gets him in the leg. The guy moves toward Christine as he takes a step he catches his self on the back of the couch he lifts his gun pointing it at Christine he says,

“You bitch what did you do to me?” he shoots again as the bullet just missed Christine’s leg. Christine quickly pulls her Katana cutting his hand off. The guy falls to the floor next to her dead she looks at the guy as he has been cut down his back. She looks up expecting to see one of Dragonfly as she saw Aya standing where the guy had been standing, blood dripping from his blade. Christine was angered and pleased to see Aya standing there as she cleans her Katana blade and re sheathes it.

Aya wipes his blade clean on the guys jacket and re sheathes it as well. Christine goes to get up as Aya takes her in his arms picking her up and carrying her out of the room Christine holding her arm as she cringes.

“You little fool what made you think you could dodge a bullet. You could have gotten yourself killed back there.” Aya says heading down the hall to the others.

“Where were you Ran?” Christine asks him.

“I was still trying to take my target down he was a good fight, but no match for me when I showed him what I was really made of.” Aya says.

“Why did you not call when you were all clear?” Christine asks him in anger.

“Because there was enough noise on the headset with everyone going on about you and wondering what had happened.” Aya tells her.

Just then, Dragonfly and the rest of Weiss came running up the hall toward them as they heard,

“Ice… Abyssinian what happen?” Stacey yells.

“Ice was wounded by the shooter.” Aya told them.

“WHAT?! How bad is it?” Ken asks.

“He got me in the arm, too far from my heart to kill me Ken.” Christine says chuckling.

Aya looks down at Christine with a cold glare as he says, “That is not funny not one little bit.”

Christine started moving around in Aya’s arms as she says, “Put me down Ran… Put me down!” She ordered him.

Aya holds her tighter as he jerks her to be still as he says, “No I will not… So just stop it and be still.” Aya glares at Christine as he packs her to his car setting her in the passenger seat.

“I am taking her to Kritiker hospital.” Aya tells them.

“Aya if you do that they are going to know we are seeing the girls.” Ken says.

“Right now I do not care Chris needs a doctor and if they ask I will think of something to cover this up.” Aya tells them getting into his car.


While Aya and Christine drive along neither one speaks to the other. When they get to the hospital Aya goes to her side picking Christine up from the seat taking her inside as a nurse saw Aya dressed in blood she rushes to their aid.

“What happen Aya?” She asks him. She had Aya follow her to an empty bed for Christine.

“She was shot in the right arm while on mission. She is Christine Connor from the American Assassin team. One of her teammates came to us for help not knowing where they could take her and it be safe without the police getting involved.” Aya tells her. The nurse nods as Aya sets Christine down on the bed.

The doctor walks in as soon as he heard about the young girl with a gunshot wound he grabs a pair of scissor and starts to cut Christine’s jumpsuit with no avail. Christine laughs as she says, “You cannot cut this jumpsuit doctor.” The doctor looks at her bewildered as Christine pulls her Katana the doctor steps back from her as Aya and the nurse get a lost look on their face. Christine drags the blade down her arm as Aya lunges toward her he stops as he saw the blade did not cut the suit or her.

“What is this?” The doctor asks.

“Light weight woven Kevlar.” Christine tells him.

“So why did it not stop the bullet?” Aya barked.

“He had to have been to close to her for it not to stop it.” The doctor says.

Christine nods as the doctor says, “Then let’s get you out of that thing so I can take a look at your arm.” The doctor waits as Christine takes her top off. Aya was watching Christine as he started to blush and turned away from her. Christine chuckles at him as the nurse helps her out of her top. The nurse gives her a gown to put on.

“Ok Ran you can turn around now.” Christine says chuckling. Aya turns and starts walking over to her.

The doctor touches her arm as Christine cringes to his touch Aya takes her hand in his as he looks at her he says, “Just squeeze if it hurts.”

“I don’t think you want me doing that Aya I might break your hand.” Christine says. Aya chuckles as he smiles at her.

“Well good news the bullet went clean through.” The doctor says.

“I could have told you that Doc.” Christine tells him.

The doctor looks at Christine as he chuckles he looks at the nurse as he says, “We need to clean out that wound and get her cleaned up so I can stitch that closed.” The doctor looks at Christine as he says, “Once we are done there you should be able to go home. You seem to be fine you must not have lost a lot of blood.”

“I applied pressure the minute it happen so I could stop the bleeding.” Christine tells him.

“I see you must have been shot before.” The doctor says.

Christine looks at Aya and then back at the doctor as she says, “A few… yes.”

“And how many is a few young lady?” The doctor asks her as he was getting everything together to stitch her up and the nurse was cleaning her wound.

Christine sat there not saying anything as the doctor turned looking at her he raises his brow at her as Christine says,

“I lost count after 7 years.”

“WHAT!!” Aya exclaims, “What do you mean you lost count?”

Christine looks at Aya as she narrows her eyes at him saying, “I have been cut, beat, and shot so many times I lost count. Is there something wrong with that?”

The doctor walks up behind Christine as he looks at her back he says, “Well there are 6 bullet scares here on you back so far the new one on your arm and Oh My Lord Child.”

The doctor exclaims, as he saw a scare from her waistline down into her pants he asks, “Where does this stop at?” Christine can feel the doctor touching her back at the scare Schuldich gave her one year.

“It stops right behind my left knee. It was done with my Wakazashi.” Christine tells him.

“You cut yourself with your own sword?” Aya asks her.

Christine shakes her head and says nothing more of it as the doctor says, “This is going to sting a little.” He pushes the needle into Christine’s arm to numb the area he needs to sew up Christine cringes as the medicine starts to flow from the needle into her arm and muscles.

She squeezes Aya’s hand as he smiles at her he says, “Big Baby…” Christine chuckles as she starts to relax looking into Aya’s eyes his soft blue eyes made her feel at ease as she looked into them.

Christine and Aya became lost in one another’s eyes and before they knew it, the doctor says, “Ok all done. You are free to go home. I am going to give you an antibiotic to take just incase. We do not need an infection coming up in that.”

Christine breaks her gaze from Aya’s turning and looking at the doctor as she nods saying, “Thank you Doc.”

“No thanks needed it is my job.” The doctor tells her walking from the room.

Aya takes off his shirt giving it to Christine saying, “Here wear this home so you do not have to fight with that top again it is a little tight.”

Christine takes his shirt taking off the gown Aya turns away again as Christine slides into Aya’s shirt he gave her. Aya puts on his coat and helps Christine off the bed and out of the room walking back to his car.


Meanwhile back at Dragonfly home base everyone is waiting to hear something on Christine or even see Aya and Christine walk in the door. After about an hour Stacey picks up her phone and goes to dial Christine’s number.

“You are calling them?” Yohji asks her walking over to her and touching Stacey’s shoulder. She nods looking at Yohji,

“I am going nuts here wondering what is going on.” Stacey says.

“They will be here when they are done Stac.” Jen says.

“I swear Jen ain’t you worried even the slightest bit?” Susie asks.

“Well yes… but this is just like the time Schuldich cut her. You all freaked out and then when you called her where was she?” Jen says.

Susie chuckles as she says, “Sitting out in front of the house with Schuldich.” Jen nods as Stacey replies, “I do not care she is with Aya and if anyone finds out about all this it is over.”

“I have a question?” Omi says.

Stacey looks at Omi waiting for him to asks as Ken says, “I think I have the same question.”

Stacey looks at Ken as Yohji nods saying, “Me too…”

“Well what is it?” Stacey says slightly annoyed.

“Why did Schuldich cut Christine?” Omi says.

Ken and Yohji nod looking at Stacey as she sighs saying, “It was on a mission that ESAT sent us out on after Schwartz. Christine and Schuldich were fighting and Nagi took Christine’s Wakazashi from her. Nagi dropped it between Schuldich and Christine. They both made a break for the Wakazashi. Schuldich getting to it first, he forgot the Wakazashi was not like her Katana and a reverse blade and brought the blade down on her cutting her from here…” Stacey turns pointing at her waistline down behind her knee, “To here.”

“Wow… What happen then?” Omi asks.

“Schuldich freaked grabbing CC up and ran off with her.” Jen says.

“We knew he was taking her to get help, but we were all freaking ourselves wondering and worrying how she was.” Susie says.

“I bet…” Ken says. Stacey starts to dial her phone as the front door opens and Aya and Christine walks in.



Hunter or The Hunted Chapter 8