Warning: This fanfic is based on the manga, which is a lot different from the anime. This fanfic contains spoilers, so be warned if you haven't read the manga.

Disclaimer: I do not own Elfen Lied. Elfen Lied is property of Okamoto Lynn.

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Mariko couldn't believe what she was doing when she opened her eyes.

What… am I doing?!

Takahashi didn't move. He was too surprised.

How could Mariko not have noticed that she was kissing him?

Sensei's face… closer than ever… And his lips…

Takahashi got a grip of himself and gently pushed her away.

"What… what was that?" he asked, not completely sure of what just happened.

"Haah! I… I… I'm so sorry!" Mariko said nervously. "I didn't mean to… I mean… I'm sorry!"

"You… You just kissed me…" Takahashi said in disbelief. "Why did you…?"

This was very awkward for both of them. Mariko pulled the bed sheets all over her head.

How can I face him right now?! I can't run away and avoid him! Oh, what should I do?!

"Mariko-chan…?" Takahashi said. Mariko didn't move.

Takahashi sighed.

"You're in love with me, aren't you?" he said.

"No! No! I'm not!" he heard a muffled voice say from underneath the sheets.

"It's ok," Takahashi said calmly. "I already know."

Mariko threw the sheets off her.

"I'm not in love with you!" she said.

"You don't have to be ashamed," Takahashi said calmly. He reached out to caress her head like he always did. But Mariko flinched and shoved away from him, almost falling out of the bed.

"Mariko-chan…"

"Don't touch me… please…" Mariko said. "It's so painful... I know it's wrong, ok?"

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," Takahashi said friendlily. "I think it's rather flattering."

"But you don't feel the same for me," Mariko said. "So it's painful to me."

Takahashi came to sit closer to her.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"It's ok, you know… I'm trying my best to get over it, but…" Mariko said.

Takahashi bent over to her and kissed her on the cheek. Mariko's face became fire red.

"Don't worry, it'll be alright," he said with a smile.

He stood up.

"I'll go get you something to eat," he said. "Now stay in bed for a change, ok?"

"Y-yes," Mariko said.

After a few days, Mariko's wounds were starting to heal and she took off the bandages. She tried to cover the wounds with her hair, but it was so messy, she looked ridiculous.

She wasn't ready to go outside yet. She decided to cut her hair more properly. And she needed a different hair colour, so people might not recognize her. Her hair was dark purple like her mother's. She decided to dye it dark brown. That way, she wouldn't stand out.

Of course, Takahashi was the one who had to go buy hair dye, leading to an awkward moment at the cash register. People were probably thinking he was starting to grow grey hair. And that for a man his age.

He almost didn't recognize her when she appeared in front of him with brown hair in a short cut. The only thing that remained the same were her cute face and her green eyes. Nana's eyes. He always wondered if she even took something after her father at all.

"Amazing," he said. "You look just like a normal human girl."

"Really?" Mariko asked.

"The brown suits you," Takahashi said.

"Thank you," Mariko said. "Do you think anyone will recognize me?"

"I don't know," Takahashi said. "I think if your friends take a good look, they'll know it's you."

"I don't mind if they recognize me," Mariko said. "That's fine. They would never betray me."

"If you're 100 percent sure, then I won't stop you from going outside," Takahashi said.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me, Sensei," Mariko said. "I'll be back around 5 o'clock so I can make you dinner."

She looked at herself in the mirror.

"Oh, right," she said. "I should change clothes, first."

She put on the clothes she had been sewing. She made herself a simple top and a skirt.

"You're… not very good at sewing, are you?" Takahashi said when he saw her. And he was right. The top was too tight and the skirt was too wide.

"I'm so embarrassed," Mariko said. "I can't wear these."

The skirt was slipping down a bit, showing Mariko's panties. Takahashi turned around and faced the wall.

"I'll just be looking this way now," he said with a slight blush. "Listen… I might have some of my sister's clothes somewhere…"

"Huh?!" Mariko said. "Why didn't you tell me before?!"

"I just realised a few days ago," Takahashi said. "I'm not even sure where I've kept them. I'll go look for them. Just a second."

Mariko stayed in the bedroom. After a few minutes, she decided to put on his shirt again. That was less embarrassing than what she was wearing now, after all. When she stood up, the skirt automatically fell off. It was way too wide. She had some trouble taking off the top, though. When she tried to pull it over her head, she got stuck.

Okay… easy, step by step… Chin, mouth – ah, now I can breathe again! – nose… ow… almost…

"Found them!" Takahashi said when he entered the room. He immediately fell quiet when he saw Mariko. She stood two metres away from him, wearing nothing but panties and a top that got her head and arms caught. What drew his attention the most, were her breasts. He caught himself staring at them for a while.

Mariko managed to pull the top above her eyes, and the first thing she saw were Takahashi's eyes staring at her breasts.

Her face became completely red.

No, this can't be…

"AAAH! DON'T LOOK! DON'T LOOK!" she screamed. She tried to struggle her way out of that cursed top.

"Mariko-chan! Hey, c-calm down!" Takahashi said. "Wait. I'll help you…"

"Stay back!" Mariko yelled. "Stay back!"

"I'm just going to help you," Takahashi said. "Calm down."

He slowly walked towards her. Mariko was still shaking and looking scared, but she did seem to allow him to help her. Her face was fire red.

"I've seen you naked before," Takahashi said.

"That's not making me feel any better, Sensei," Mariko said with a frown.

He slowly reached his hands out to her and grabbed the top. Mariko was shaking heavily.

"Relax," Takahashi said in a gentle voice. "I'll be careful."

Wow… It's really stuck… Scissors won't do any good, either. I might end up hurting her…

He managed to pull it a little further up.

There we go… just a little… just a little further and she's free…

He slipped. He slipped and landed on top of her!

Shit!

"Ah! I'm sorry! I…"

He found himself lying on top of her. He had managed to pull the top over the rest of her head, but now it looked like he caught her arms with one hand while the other was…

Mariko didn't seem to notice. They just looked straight in each other's eyes.

With his other hand, Takahashi could feel her heartbeat go faster.

W-what's this…? Why… am I feeling so weird?

Without even realizing it himself, he was slightly squeezing her breast.

"Haah… what… are you d-doing?!" Mariko asked. She looked at his hand. "S-stop it!" She tried to push him away, but her arms were caught in his grip. "No, don't…!"

"Eh?" Takahashi just woke up from his thoughts, realizing what he was doing. In even less than one second, he let go of her, got off her and backed away.

"Ah! Sorry! Sorry!"

Mariko threw the top away and covered her breasts with her arms. She was all red, sweaty and shaking all over.

"It's not what you think," Takahashi said. "I didn't know what I was doing!"

What *was* I doing?! What the hell just got into me?!

"I'm really, really sorry," he said.

We're no longer teacher and student.

"Don't be scared of me," he said.

We are no longer teacher and student…

"Please say something," he said.

so…

"I-I… I'd l-like to change clothes n-now…" Mariko stuttered.

why wouldn't this be allowed?

"I understand," Takahashi said.

She's in love with me…

"I'll just go downstairs," he said.

If she's serious, she wouldn't mind if I…

He left the room.

if I…

He stopped.

what?! What am I thinking?! That she wouldn't mind if I touched her?! Of course she would!! Why do I even feel the urge to…

He shook the thought off. This girl was fifteen years younger than him! He'd be a paedophile if he'd ever do that to her.

When Mariko came downstairs after a few minutes, she was wearing a light blue dress with a small, dark blue ribbon on the shoulder.

Takahashi looked at her.

"Wow," he said. "It suits you well."

"Th-thank you," Mariko said without looking at him. "Well then… I'm going…"

"Ok, see you tonight," Takahashi said.

Without looking back, Mariko left the house, leaving Takahashi alone with his thoughts.

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The 'M' rating wasn't for nothing, you know :P Hope you liked it ^^ Please R&R