A/N: Mmk:D These are my characters in my new upcoming story... I just wanted to get use to writing them more! Wee!

I Hate You.

By: Hopelessmine!

"You must either be really stupid, or really smart," I breathed, closing my eyes as I pressed the back of my head hard against the wall.

"Probably the latter," was his even reply, as he knelt down and fiddled with a device of some sort.

Opening my eyes again, I took a deep breath again, and looked suspiciously at his slightly shadowed figure in front of me. "Are you sure this will work?"

"Calm down, Clair." Shrugging, he stood, and gave me a wary smile. "We'll just have to follow what goes."

"Oho," Straightening myself, I allowed myself to glower at him. "That's really a comforting statement, Mr. Professor"

"Mm." Siscern's calm eyes surveyed the area in front of us, examining the target area. "Alright, Clair. On the count of three..."

"Pfft, how childish," I rolled my eyes, unable to keep a cold fear from rising in my throat.

"One..."

"I really hate you and this stupid plan right now, you know?"

"Two..."

"No, I'm serious. I really, really hate it."

"Three..."

"Augh! You so owe me big time."

And with that, I bolted. Bolted out into the open— the target area. Shouts from all different directions sounded, and numerous footsteps pounded after me.

Ahhhhhhh! Shaking my hair frantically out of the way, I ran even faster, if that was possible. With each step, my body jolted. Up. Down. Up. Down. I squeaked as bullets raced past me, hitting various objects ahead of me. Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth wide:

"I HATE YOU, SISCERRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNN!"

And I ran for my life— literally.

"Now, wasn't that fun?" Siscern said, an amused tone wedging its way into his tranquil voice.

"Yes," I retorted very sarcastically, collapsing on the ground, panting heavily. "Yes, that was very fun, thank you very much. I think I'll go for a round two sometime soon."

Amusement shone brighter in his eyes, as he heard the anger in my voice.

"Anyways," I continued, "Did you get whatever you were going for?"

The professor blinked, then nodded. "Yes."

"Good." Reaching forward, I loosened the straps of my boots slightly. "It's nice to know I didn't have five minutes of pure terror for nothing."

"Mm..." Sliding down the wall until he was sitting next to my hunched figure, he looked up at the dimming evening sky. "Christmas is tomorrow, you know."

"No, really?" I crossed my arms, huffily, feeling more than a little miffed. Seeing him rotate his gaze from the sky to me, I sighed. "Just— don't remind me. It's depressing on so many levels."

"Ah." And he went back to sky-gazing again.

We sat in silence for another few moments again, our shadows steadily getting longer with every passing second.

Something nagged at the back of my mind, and I silently wondered if I should voice the thought.

No, the prideful part of my mind answered.

Yes, the other part shot back.

No.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

N—

"Something's bothering you."

Jerking slightly, I swung my gaze to meet Siscern's.

"Oh, no. It's nothing." Shaking my head, I lost myself in my mind war again, letting the silence resume its place.

Then...

"... do you think it'll be different?" The painstakingly easy, yet hard words to say fell from my mouth in a faint whisper. Immediately after I said that, I regretfully wished I had never said them. How childish had I sounded?

Without even looking at the professor, I knew that he was looking at me once again. He had heard.

When there was no response, I sighed, knowing he was waiting for me to elaborate on my odd question.

"Is this..." Clearing my throat, I raised my voice slightly. "Is this Christmas going to be different from the other ones?"

There was a pause. Then... "Why do you ask?"

I paused. "Oh, no. No reason." Like you'd care, anyways, my mind added ruefully.

Le Professeur shifted slightly, absent-mindedly shaking his hair out of his eyes. "Well," he began, voice deep in thought. "I believe it will if you want it to be."

I turned and stared— scrutinizing him. "How so?"

"Mm, well, for starters," he blinked and turned his face, staring back at me, deep purple swirling with unreadable emotions. "There's always mind over matter. You can also use your mind to overcome your true feelings, and—"

"— I'm not in the mood for your little psychology lessons," I snapped, suddenly feeling anger surge through my veins. Tiredness washed over me. "Just forget it, Sissy."

Shaking my head, I redrew my legs and rose from my position. "I'll meet you back 'headquarters'," I murmured softly, reaching for my quiver and bow. "I'm out of here. Besides, it looks like it's going to rain."

As I turned to make my way out of the narrow alleyway we were stationed in, I felt a hand wrap around my wrist tenderly.

"Don't go." Siscern's voice crept from the shadows where he was still sitting.

"Sorry to disappoint," I turned and glared at him, feeling my anger mount. "But I really don't care about your opinion right now." Shaking off his hand with tremendous force, I gave the Professor a hard look, before turning away again.

The next second, I was engulfed by gentle arms, stopping me in my tracks. I could feel his soft, flittering breathing, as his forehead rested against the back of my head, raising the hairs on my neck.

I froze in his embrace, unsure of what to do. "Sis-Siscern, w-what are– what're you d-doing?"

"Don't go." I felt cool breath fluttering over my skin as he spoke. "Don't go. Stay here."

My anger vanished in an instant, as alarm took over. "W-what're you talking about, Siscern? I'm just going back to headquarters."

"I know," I shivered slightly as he spoke again, releasing another soft wisp of air. Instinctively, he tightened his hold around me. "But, don't go."

Now I was truly puzzled by his actions. "... Why?"

"Don't you want to know why I did what I did today?" He pressed his forehead tighter against my hair, breathing my scent in. "Do you want to know what I got?"

I had to admit, I was curious over this unexpected mission today. "Alright, then," I sighed, giving in. "Why, Siscern?"

"Look up." Two words.

Blinking in confusion, I slowly raised my head, preparing for the worst. And I was met with the sight of...

Up above us on a rafter hung a small pile of leaves.

... Leaves?

"Leaves?" I voiced my inward thought.What was going on?

"Mistletoe, actually," Siscern corrected me, pleasantly. I froze.

"Oh, no." I whispered, eyes widening. "Ohhh, nonononono." Pushing myself away from Siscern's body, I spun around fully, eyes wide with confusion and anger.

"Whatever," I let out a deep breath, watching Siscern's calm, amused face with a growing sense of fury. "Whatever you, and whoever else that's involved in this, are planning, I'm not going to take part in any way— especially by being the subject of this experiment!"

Siscern blinked at me, then shrugged lightly. "There's no plan to this."

My mouth dropped open indignantly. "Liar!"

The professeur sighed and looked at me wearily. "I'm not lying, Clairissa."

"Don't call me that," I hissed, trying to keep the growing self-doubt down. "And yes, you're lying."

"No, I'm not." Siscern shook his head slowly, his unruly hair shifting, as the sides of his lips quirked up slightly. "I'm really not."

"Okay, fine." I crossed my arms, eyes peering sharply at him. "Let's say it isn't a plan. Then what is it?"

"It's the holidays, Clair." His smile quickly grew, and he rolled his eyes at me. "This is what we do when Christmas time comes around."

Wait... "Wait..." My mouth fell open once more, as I realization suddenly hit me. "So the whole reason you sent me out to my death today was because YOU WANTED TO GET MISTLETOE?!"

"Of course." Siscern looked up at the plant hanging above us with interest.

"Of course? You— you—" I could barely get the words out of my mouth, as anger burst from me like a volcano. I think I saw red. "You... INGRATE!"

I raised my hand to smack the Professor, when a hand wrapped around my wrist again. I snarled at Siscern, livid. "Let go of me! I'm going to kill you!"

"Sorry, I can't let you do that yet." Siscern was still staring up at the mistletoe, studying it calmly. He wasn't even paying attention to me and my anger at all!

Argh! Jerking my arm out of his grasp, I raised it again, determined to make a big red mark across his annoyingly placid face, when—

— his lips met mine.

I froze, mouth parting slightly, as I almost choked in disbelief. Was he— he was— no way in—

"Ack!" My brain returning to normal function again, I jumped away with lightening speed, eyes wide open as I stared at him in shock.

Siscern leaned back, a small smile playing across his features, as he watched me. "Hm."

Oh... my... "Don't 'Hm' me!" I shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at him. "You— you kissed me!"

"Oh, really? I didn't realize that." Siscern snorted sarcastically, still smiling.

"How could you! You— you take– take-advanteger!" I fumbled with my words, still numb from the trauma. "You're an evil person!"

"Yes," Siscern reached down for his bag, voice hinted with amusement. "Yes, I'm an evil, vile person. After all, I'm a take-advanteger." He made sure to stress out my made-up word.

"Shut up," I muttered, looking away. Suddenly, my head jolted up as something came across my mind. "Hey! It's not even Christmas yet! You can't kiss me! It doesn't count! Hah! You lose! Loser!" I started to do a victory dance in the alleyway, feeling very triumphant over my discovery.

Siscern seemed quite entertained as he looked at me dancing over my victory. "I don't know about the kiss not counting, but oh, well," Shrugging, he slung his bag over his shoulder, and proceeded to walk past my jig, patting me on the shoulder as he went by. "Guess I'll have to do it all over again tomorrow. Good thing I decided to prepare an emergency batch of mistletoe."

I stiffened in my position, feeling suddenly faint. Turning around very slowly, I watched his back as he walked away, eyes wide in disbelief. "Wh... what did you say?"

Siscern swung around, walking backwards now. "You know what I said," he said, eyes glinting wickedly. "Let's go, Clair. It looks like it's going to rain."

With that, he turned around again, hair ruffling in the cold breeze. I stared wordlessly after him, still trying to comprehend this new horror that was awaiting me tomorrow.

Taking a huge, deep breath, I opened my mouth wide, letting my feelings out, summed up nicely in four words:

"I HATE YOU, SISCERRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNN!"

Fin
A/N: Rawr! This is not going to be part of my main story! No, no, no! This is a side-story! I like side-stories! Anything can happen. Ohohohoho. I'm so happy that I finally finished this! Yayy! Ebil homework. D: