“Hunter or The Hunted”
Chapter 8


Everyone ran over to Aya and Christine as they walked in.

“So what happen?” Stacey asks. “Is everything alright?”

Christine looks at Stacey as she says, “Yes everything is going to be fine the bullet went clean through. The doctor stitched me up and sent me home.”

“So did you call Brandon and tell him?” Jen asks.

Christine looks at Jen with a confused look as she says, “Now why would I do that?”

“Because he might send us out again and you are in no shape to fight right now.” Susie says.

“I am leaving tomorrow night and not coming back until Wednesday Susie or did you forget that. Brandon told me that tonight’s mission would be the last for us until I got back unless push comes to shove and he needed you guys.” Christine told her.

“You’re leaving Christine?” Omi asks her sounding disappointed.

Christine looks at Omi as she chuckles saying, “I will only be gone 5 days Omi I am not going to just not come back and if this trip pays off I will have our ride for the mission.”

“So you are going to see Sebastian then?” Aya asks sounding a little miffed.

Christine looks at Aya as she says, “Well yeah he is the one I was going to get to do this for us.”

“And what happens if he turns you in to ESAT?” Aya asks her getting more upset.

Christine looks at Aya as she says in a cold tone, “Then I won’t be coming back Wednesday Ran and if that happens I suggest you all find a small planet to take off to, because they will not be far behind to get you as well.”

“Sebastian would not do that to you would he CC?” Jen asks.

“I cannot promise you anything Jen, Sebastian is hard to read.” Christine tells her.

“But I thought Schuldich said this Sabastian guy was in love with you?” Yohji asks. Aya gives Yohji a stern look of being displeased.

Christine replies, “Yes Yohji, Sebastian is in love with me, but if he feels I am in any kind of danger here he will not hastate to try and stop me.”

“Even turn you in to ESAT? He has to know that it may cause them to send a hit out on you.” Ken says.

Christine nods as she says, “Sebastian will stop me how ever he can and if a hit is called on Dragonfly, Sebastian will call and tell me. He knows that will put me into hiding and then I will not be able to do what I wanted.”

“So in turn keeping you safe from danger in both ways because he would not kill you and you could not go on the mission and get killed that way either.” Omi says.

Christine nods as Aya says irritated, “I do not care how he looks at it, if there is any doubt what so ever he will turn on us Chris do not bring him in.”

“I won’t Aya I know how to get around Sebastian without him finding out what I have planed I have done it hundreds of times.” Christine says.

“I still do not like this and I wish you would have told me sooner you were leaving.” Aya says.

Christine looks at Aya as she says, “Why Ran you cannot go with me none of you can accept Dragonfly. You need to be here with the team so if anything comes up or anything happens they have you to help them.”

Christine looks at the clock as she hears Ken ask, “How will we know if something happens to you Christine?”

“I will call Stacey every night at a certain time to check in. She knows if I have not called within an hour of that time to get moving because things went dire and they will be next.” Christine says.

“No… You are not going to see him.” Aya barks.

Christine looks at Aya becoming highly upset at him as she says, “This conversation has just ended… I am going to bed Good night everyone.” Christine turns walking away from them as Aya heads after her down the hall.

“This is not going to be good.” Ken says.

“Well I can see why he is worried Christine is putting her life on the line here and might be putting us all on the run not to mention our lives here being in danger from the Crushers.” Yohji says.

“If Chris thought there was any chance of that she would not be going to see Sebastian.” Stacey says.

“Then why all the precautions?” Ken asks.

“Because… It is better to be safe then sorry.” Stacey says as she heard Aya yelling at Christine for what she is about to do.


While in Christine’s room, Aya is trying to get Christine not to go back to the States to talk to Sebastian.

“Stop it Ran I am going and there is nothing you can say or do that is going to change my mind.” Christine says in an irritated tone walking away from him.

Aya quickly walks with her as he grabs her arm turning her to look at him as he says, “Nothing I say or do will change your mind?” Aya asks her in a calmer tone.

Christine looks at Aya as she says, “Only if you can tell me you have a pilot that can do this and no one will be able to find out about all of us and what we are doing.”

Aya hangs his head as Christine says, “That’s what I thought Ran… Now please leave I have work in the morning and I am tired.”

Aya looks at Christine as he asks, “Will I see you before you leave?”

“I doubt it you will still be at work when I am leaving.” Christine tells him turning her back on him and walking away.

Aya stands there as he asks, “Can you do something for me before you leave then please?”

Christine turns looking at Aya as she asks him, “What is that Ran?” Aya walks toward her touching her cheek he looks her in the eyes as he moves closer to her.

Christine moves back from him as Aya moves closer he whispers, “Kiss me…”

“Ran…” Christine says at a whisper.

“Please Chris just one kiss before you go?” Aya asks her. Christine looks deep into Aya’s eyes she starts to feel lost in them.

Aya pulls Christine closer as she hears Aya softly say, “And mean it like your eyes do when you look at me.” Christine stands there as Aya moves into her closer as their lips brush against one another’s in a soft kiss and then slowly moves into a more heated and passionate kiss.

Christine wraps her arms around Aya as they kiss she pulls him closer to her until it feels, as their bodies are one. They pull away from the kiss as they both move back into one another and kiss again.


The next day Christine is setting at her desk at work as the time slowly ticked by. Christine knew that by taking a short day at work the day was going to creep by like a snail, as she sat there doing her daily work Susie walked by as she said, “Hey lady, lunch time you need to get out of here so you can finish getting packed.”

Christine looked up at the clock as it read two minutes past 12 she stood up behind her desk as she says, “I guess so; time seemed to pass quickly the last two hours.”

“It happens when you keep busy and stop looking at the clock ever 5 minutes.” Susie says chuckling.

“It does not help I am slightly tired from no sleep last night either.” Christine says stretching and yawning.

Susie giggles as she says, “Well maybe if you would have kicked Aya from your room before 5 am you would not be so tired.”

Christine gives Susie a shocked look as Christine says, “Nothing happened I will have you know.”

“Right and I am the Queen of England.” Susie says walking to the elevators.

Susie turns looking over her shoulder she smiles at Christine as she says, “Do not worry your secret is safe with me…” Christine shakes her head and chuckles as she watches Susie get on the elevator and the doors close. Susie gives a slight wave and a big smile as they go close.


Later Christine pulls up in front of their home as she saw Aya leaning against his car out in front of the house. Christine parks the car and starts’ walking out toward him as Aya is walking up to the house and her.

“What are you doing here Aya?” Christine asks him.

“I called your work to talk to you and tell you Bye and they told me you had already left for the day. So I took a chance and came here to see if I could catch you.” Aya told her. Christine smiled as she turned around to go into the house, she felt Aya touch her arm as she turned to look at him he handed her a single red rose.

“Thank you Aya it is lovely.” Christine says as she takes the rose from him and smelling it. “MMM it smells wonderful.” She looks at Aya as he looked as if he had something on his mind.

“What is wrong Aya?” Christine asks him, “You look as if you have something to say, but are afraid to say it.”

Aya sighs, “I do, and I want you to think about it while you are gone the next few days.”

Christine nods saying, “What is it?”

“I want you stay after you are done with the mission with Sacred Hearts.” Aya says.

Christine gets a shocked look on her face as she stands there for a few seconds then starts to chuckle as she says, “Ran you know I cannot do that. I have to go back to the states. My home is there my friends are there and my job is there. I cannot just up and leave like that.”

“You have a job here and you can find a new home with me and as far as being an Assassin, I am sure Kritiker would love to have you on their team.” Aya tells her.

Christine laughs as she says, “Kritiker would love that… like they would not know why I am coming to work for them.”

“Well so far they do not know and so what if they do find out.” Aya replied.

Christine raised her eyebrows as she says, “Because if they find out you know what will happen Ran and I for one like my job as an Assassin.”

“Well I enjoy and love being with you and that is why I want you to stay here with me.” Aya tells her.

“Is that a fact… and you think me staying here with you will make everything better?” Christine asks.

Aya looks at her saying, “Yes it will, I will even try to talk the other girls into staying with you I am sure the guys would love that.”

“There is no way you are going to get the girls to stay here. Jen will graduate this year and she wants to do that with her friends back in the states. Stacey has her kids and Susie…” Christine pauses as she thinks then says, “Well Susie might be the only one you might get to stay here.”

“What if I can talk them into staying here?” Aya says.

Christine gets a shocked look on her face again as she says, “Ran what about ESAT? That is what we devoted our lives to it is not our jobs outside of ESAT. We fight to keep our world safe that is our life!” Christine tells him.

“Then join Kritiker with us like I said.” Aya replies.

Christine shakes her head as she turns walking away from Aya to the house her words trail behind her, “If it is that simple Ran you move to the states with me and join ESAT.”

Aya runs up behind her as he touches her arm turning her to look at him he had a big smile on his face as he says, “Do you want me to, because if you seriously want me to follow you to the states… I WILL.”

“RAN what about Weiss?” Christine asks.

“They can do what they want; we all have been looking for a reason to get out of Weiss and move on with our lives. What’s to say… that Ken, Omi and Yohji may want to move to the states as well. After all Weiss and Dragonfly have come to be more then friends.” Aya says smiling.

“Ran I know you want us to be together, but the best I can do for you is what you have right now. I cannot ask you to leave your home for me or Weiss or even your job.” Christine replies.

“But this is what I want, I want to be with you and if leaving Japan is part of what I have to do then I will do it. I know Omi, Ken, and Yohji were talking about losing Susie, Jen, and Stacy as well. We all have gotten very close to you girls in the last month and we do not want to lose any of you.” Aya says.

Christine turns walking away from Aya again as he grabs her arm exclaiming, “Damn it Chris why do you avoided things when I am trying to talk to you? I tell you how I feel and what I would like to have in my life and you act as if you do not care about me or what I think.” Christine looks at Aya she then slowly pulls away from him turning and walking toward the house again. Christine walks inside closing the door behind her going to her room.

Not long after Aya comes walking into her room looking hurt and rejected as he says, “Please Christine I only want to be with you.”

“Why Ran…” Christine asks.

Aya got a shocked look on his face he was about to reply as Christine says, “Do you want to worry about me with ever mission I go out on? Do you want to sit at home praying the phone does not ring and it be ESAT on the other end getting ready to tell you the love of your life is dead? Do you want us to fight over me being an Assassin and you want me to quit so I will be safe and at home with you at night instead of out killing people and them hurting or maybe even killing me? Is this what you want Ran?”

Aya walks toward Christine placing his hands on her arms his eyes filled with only love and caring for Christine as he says, “Of course not Chris, you know I do not want that.”

“And if you get back into the Assassin business in the states. Then we will both be at each other over what we do after hours.” Christine tells him. “I know I do not want to go through that… not again…I do not even want to do it now, but I have made my bed now I have to lay in it.” Christine says.

Aya gives Christine a confused look as he asks, “You mean to tell me you did not want to be with me?”

Christine hangs her head as she says, “Of course I wanted to be with you Ran, but I knew where it could lead to and it has finally gotten to that. You want me to stay… I cannot, you want to follow me… I will not ask you to do that. Now every mission we go on I will worry about your safety, you will worry about mine, and that not only puts us in danger but the other team members as well. We have made a big mistake here and we need to stop this now.”

Aya steps back from her as he exclaims, “Mistake?! Is that how you see my love for you is a mistake?”

Christine looks up at Aya as she says, “In our line of work… Yes. There is no room for love for an Assassin.”

Aya steps up to Christine taking her in his arms pulling her close to him hugging her, she hears Aya say, “If this is a mistake, I hope this is one I will be paying for, for the rest of my life. Because this is the best mistake, I have ever made. I will follow you to the ends of the earth if I have to Christine…” Aya pauses as he hugs her tighter Aya pulls away from her looking in her eyes.

Christine shakes her head and smiles saying, “Your not going to back down are you, it does not matter what I tell you, and you’re not going to give up on me are you?”

Aya shakes his head as he says, “I will find away for us, you wait and see.”

“Ran all you are doing is heading down a road of heartache. Neither Kritiker nor ESAT is going to let us be together with us being with them.” Christine tells him pulling away from him.

“Then we quite ESAT and Kritiker and do something else or have them team us as a couple.” Aya says.

“Pipe dreams… all pipe dreams Ran. We will never be a team together, not with ESAT or Kritiker either one they will not have it.” Christine replies.

“Then we leave them and do something else, there are plenty of other things we can do and still help the people and keep the world safe.” Aya tells her.

“You’re reaching Ran.” Christine replies.

Aya steps toward Christine as he says, “And you’re making excuses for us not to be together Chris.”

Christine turns away from Aya with a sigh as she says,“You just do not understand Ran. You have never lost someone close to you in this line of work be it a friend or lover.” Christine replies.

“That’s where you are wrong Chris I have lost many a friends in this line of work. Your right about the never having lost a lover, but I will soon if she does not see things like they should be.” Aya tells her.

Christine turns looking at Aya she sighs, “You have until the mission for Sacred Hearts is over to be with me and then I will return home and you will stay here Ran. I will not put you or me in a place that you will learn to regret and a place I know I will regret for bringing you to.”

“You cannot make that choice for me Chris. I will do what I want and you cannot stop me, if going to the states to be with you is what I want to do then I will do it and no one will stop me.” Aya tells her.

Christine gets angered at Aya raising her voice as she exclaims, “Stop being so hard headed Ran. You do not know what you are asking for here. I have been there and I am there now once more.” Christine unbuttons her blouse pulling down her sleeve, “Do you see this Ran… I got this because I could not stop worrying about you. My mind was not on saving my ass, but on you and praying you were still alive and safe. If I would have been thinking about the mission and not you, my timing would have been more precise and he would have never got me.”

“But you also wanted to live to make sure you could come find me once the guy was out of the way, right?” Aya asks her.

“Of course I did I was worried, all I wanted to do was find you and make sure you were alright.” Christine tells him.

“So your love for me made you want to live to be with me.” Aya says softly.

“You’re missing the point Ran.” Christine says still angered.

“No you are… I know there are two ways to look at this. The way you are and the way I am. There are pros and cons in ever situation Chris and you only want to look at it one way because you have lost a loved one already because of your work. I know how you must be feeling Chris. I hate the thought of losing you, but that could happen with you just going to work or walking out of your house. None of us is immune from death, it is just our line of work that makes it even more dangerous, and we have to learn to keep our heads about us if we go on missions together.” Aya tells her.

“So you are willing to sacrifice you or me because we cannot stop worrying about one another?” Christine asks him.

“Of course not Chris I would never want to do that.” Aya exclaims.

“But that is what you are doing when we get into a spot like we were the other night. When you did not reply within the time, I thought you would be finished I started to worry.” Christine said with concern.

“How do you think I felt when I heard those gun shoots echo in the headset? My heart sunk, I wanted to call out to you just to hear your voice and make sure you were all right, but I cleared my head and finished off my hit and then came after you. Those headsets are nice but they can also hinder a mission when something like that happens.” Aya says.

“That is why they are voice activated to our voice only. I do not know why mine switched on when the guy shot.” Christine tells him.

“Either way Chris I know we can do this you are strong enough to clear your head and get back to the right frame of mind to finish a mission. I have seen it in you while we were training. The guys upset you a number of times and you went right back to a clear head and a focused mind.” Aya tells her.

“That is training Ran there was nothing life threatening about that.” Christine says.

Aya shakes his head, “The girls have told me a lot of stories about you and your missions and how you are on them. I know this is something we can control we can turn it and make our love for one another work for us instead of against us, only making us stronger.” Aya says.

“You’re a fool Ran to think this could work.” Christine says.

“It can and we can make it work if only you will give it the chance.” Aya says.

Christine shakes her head as she turns walking away from Aya she says, “I want to believe you Ran. I really do but my heart is far from being my mind and when my heart hurts or is in fear of something I cannot control it.”

“But you can control the love you feel in it for me?” Aya says.

Christine turns giving Aya a dirty look she was about to say something as Aya chimed in saying, “If you can control how you feel about me now then you should have no problems controlling how you fell about me in the field.”

“That is not fair Ran.” Christine says.

“How is it not fair Chris, I love you and I want to be with you and you cannot tell me you do not want the same.” Aya tells her.

Christine hangs her head as she says, “Yes I do want the same Ran, but…”

“But want?” Aya exclaims cutting her off.

Christine looks at Aya saying, “I will think about this while I am gone Ran I promise you and I will give you my answer when I return.”

Aya nods saying,“That’s all I wanted you to do in the first place.” Aya and Christine hug in agreement to one another understanding.

Aya helps Christine finish packing for her trip and then takes her to the airport. They hug at the gate and then part ways.

“I will miss you.” Christine calls back to Aya as he stands at the gate watching her board the plane.

“I love you and I will miss you as well.” Aya calls back waving, Christine waves back and disappears onto the plane.


Later back at Dragonfly base Jen comes walking into the living room all dressed up. “Where are you going?” Susie asks.

“Omi and I are going to the show and then a late night snack after.” Jen says.

Stacey walks out of the kitchen with a tray of food saying, “That is fine as long as you are in here before dawn.”

Jen looks at Stacey as she sat the try down on the coffee table saying, “What are you two doing tonight?”

“Ken and Yohji are coming over for movies and a visit.” Susie says.

Jen starts to laugh when Stacey says, “What’s so funny Jen?”

“While the cats away the mice will play.” Jen says.

Stacey and Susie chuckle as Susie says, “I do not think Christine cares any more after her and Aya last night. She knows we all have moved past the friendship mode.”

“CC and Aya?! What happen there?” Jen asks.

“Well I do not know details, but let’s just say Aya did not get out of here until like 5am.” Susie tells them.

“Sounds like Chris is getting in deep. I wonder what she is going to do about this.” Stacey says.

“What do you mean Stac?” Jen asks.

“Well if Chris fell for Aya like he has her. I am wondering what the next step for them will be.” Stacey says.

“Like CC leaving Dragonfly and moving here?!” Jen exclaims. Stacey nods as a knock cam at the front door.

Susie looks at the clock saying, “It must be Omi, because Yohji and Ken won’t be here for another 30 minutes.” Jen walks to the door opening it seeing Omi standing there.

“Come in Omi.” Jen tells him.

Omi looks at Jen seeing she was upset over something as he asks, “What’s wrong Jen?”

“CC might be leaving Dragonfly after the mission with Sacred Hearts.” Jen says.

“Aya is leaving Weiss as well after that.” Omi says.

The girls look at one another and then at Omi as Susie ask, “Did Aya tell you that Omi?”

“Yes he did and he plans on moving back to the states with you girls.” Omi says.

“WHAT!!” Susie exclaims, “I thought for sure Christine would stay here I mean with Schwartz being here and all. You would think that would be the way it would go down.”

Omi shrugs his shoulders as Jen grabs his arm and says, “I do not want to talk about all this it is bringing me down and I was in a good mood. Lets go Omi!”

Jen drags Omi out the door by his arm as Susie closes the door behind them saying, “What are we going to do Stac?”

“Well for one we do not take it to heart until Chris comes to us and tells us herself. Anything can happen in the next month and we all know Chris and how she changes her mind over things.”

“But this is different Stac, Christine has not been the same since Aya came into her life… she is… Different…” Stacey nods and then goes on her way to get ready.



Hunter or The Hunted Chapter 9