hi everyone!

I've been inspired lately and I guess I have also been favored with enough time to write so my updates might be frequent for now but then I don't know how long this will last.

However, I know that your reviews are helping me a lot. It's adding fuel to my racing imagination and whenever I read your reviews I'm like "Uh-oh, where's my notebook again?" since I write an outline on the details of every chapter. I'm already a few chapters ahead than this latest update but it still needs a lot of revising and editing. All in all, I'd like to thank my avid readers, both silent, active and reactive who have stayed with me through this fic. And special thanks also to my colleague, Sharon, who listened, critiqued, encouraged and suggested so many scenes with me when I just don't have the passion to continue.

Once again, I do not own Tora Igarashi, I just want him for my fantasies.

THE FALL OF IGARASHI

Chapter 7

Tora turned off his phone the moment he realized what he had done. He had called Ms. Matsumoto to inquire about her and it just made him uneasy knowing that he hadn't expected that of himself. This is something that he hadn't done in some time and every pore of his body is anxiously tingling. Considering the fact that he had found her plain and boring a while ago, her, making him call her is something. And that something is making him edgy to the point of hilarity. Anxious enough, he pocketed his phone and tried to decipher his behavior towards the teacher.

He had been feeling a little strange since he saw her in the party the night before and since she obviously needed some assistance due to her drunken state then he had obliged to do so. There should be nothing to fret about since what he did would be done by anyone who happens to see her. The phone call too, was an act of kindness and concern, a gesture anybody would do in order to follow up the person they had helped, not that helping her really matters.

"This is stupid," he silently muttered as he released his breath he'd been unconsciously holding. He had no idea why he'd been so conscious on the way he acts with her when in fact she's nothing but his teacher. Struggling to chase his thoughts away, he decided to drop by his favorite judo master. It would help him unwind and keep unpleasant thoughts away.

Meanwhile, Maki had just returned from his errand. He had been walking along the corridors of the Igarashi mansion when he noticed that the door to Tora's study room is open. He usually strode in knowing full well that Tora is inside, however today, he had been put to an abrupt halt. Tora was there, alright, however it was his expression that stopped Maki in his tracks. Tora had this strange expression on his face. Strange couldn't even describe the emotion he was wearing. For Tora was wearing a solemn yet somewhat weary expression. And Maki knew all too well that Tora doesn't wear out nor get solemn.

"Strange indeed," he thought. He vividly remembered how Tora had helped the drunken teacher last night; especially how he'd been close to being protective when a man opened the door to her apartment, turns out it was her brother. Funny though, since Tora hadn't let his guard down however relieved he must felt knowing that he was her brother. He knew, since he'd been close enough and knew Tora much more than anybody else. Seeing Tora release a long sigh, he decided to make his presence known.

"Tora, I already have the documents your father had sent. Will you go over this now or later?" Maki asked as he strolled towards Tora who loosened his tie in attempt to get comfortable.

"Later, I'd like to go to the dojo first, Murata-sensei might need some vicious training with me," Tora said as he strolled off without waiting for Maki's response. Maki automatically followed behind Tora. There they had spent the entire afternoon sweating themselves out at the private training temple.

Monday morning had come too swiftly and was rather eventful. Maki had been somewhat entertained by Tora's odd behavior when Ms. Matsumoto is around. Of course, he would never admit that Tora had been his source of entertainment though.

"Kei-chan, why don't you fold this part so you could show some of your stunning legs?" Ms. Akane, the school nurse motioned as she folded up Keira's skirt along the edges of her waist so that her skirt is now two inches above her knee. The contact made Keira blush as well as the length of her skirt. Ms. Akane, as Keira had discovered, is a beautiful chic woman in her late thirties, engaged to her doctor fiancée and is very much in love. Keira had the pleasure to meet her when she immediately went to the clinic first thing in the morning upon feeling a slight headache. They immediately felt comfortable with each other since then and had been closer this lunch time. They had been chatting awhile ago when the topic had become Keira's empty lovelife. Keira then casually informed her that she had no interest in men yet, since she's busy with her career; however Akane had politely told her to balance her life, and not focus on career only. After a few moments of assessing men in general, they are now discussing about fashion to which Akane pointed that she needs to show some skin in order to make men notice her, giving Keira in return wider options on who to date. Keira doesn't really agree on Akane's point of view however there is also no harm in trying something she hadn't done before. Thus, they proceeded to the clinic so that Akane can show her more tips on how to dress appropriately but fashionably.

"Isn't this much higher? I'm sure the students will think I don't dress like a teacher should," Keira asked as she turns around to inspect herself.

"Honey, I know that you're way of thinking is always anchored on being modest but there's no harm in trying a different dress style. You're skirt is way too long, even the way you do your hair tells me that you're bland and uptight. But you know what, you're not really that. With a little fixing here and there, I'm sure you'll look good without worrying much." Akane explained as she fixed Keira's skirt once more, folded the sleeves in Keira's long sleeve in three-fourths and somehow had rearrange Keira's tight and neat chignon into a relaxed bun, with some loose curls that framed her face.

"There much, much better!" Akane beamed with a smile, making Keira curiously glance at her own reflection in the mirror. She had found herself staring on a more relaxed and refreshed version of herself and couldn't help but agree to Akane's statement.

"You're right! I look much better!" Keira broke into a warm smile. "How did you do that?" Keira asked glancing at Akane who automatically answered "Oh, you already have it in you dear; you just need to show it to the world. Now, be confident and take the world for later on you'll take a pick on guys you can date! Oh, I'm just so excited for you." Akane exclaimed excitedly with stars in her eyes.

"We'll I don't know about taking a pick on guys to date but oh well, I'll try to be confident about it though," Keira said with a slight dread. Truth to be told, she like the reflection she had seen of herself. With her five foot and two inches height and petite frame, she looks sassy but still modest in her now cute-looking skirt and rolled sleeves. Her hair added a refreshed look making her look younger and babyish however she's worried that she might be treated like a normal schoolgirl rather than that of a respected teacher, she had always been mistaken for a highschooler, after all.

The bell for the afternoon session rang, signaling for the start of classes. She immediately waved goodbye to her new friend and headed for class. All her thoughts and inhibitions of her new look disappeared as she clutched her class record, attendance sheet and language book for her next class. She was supposed to have a lesson on the order of objectives today and she made a mental note on the highlight of her lesson, especially since she wanted to integrate a story before the development of the lesson. Silently muttering a tiny prayer, she immediately strolled inside the class.

"Good afternoon, class!" She greeted with a smile. Everyone in the class immediately stood and offered their greetings. After getting the class attendance, she immediately proceeded to begin her lesson. She had been asking the class on their past learning about the order of the adjectives. So far, the class had given correct details on the topic and when Keira ask for an example, many of the male students had raised their hands.

"Yes, Harima?"

"My teacher is wearing a cute, sexy brown skirt." Harima, a tall boy with glasses had openly yet not so innocently stared at her skirt.

"Uhmm, that's good. Who would like to give another sentence that uses the correct order of adjectives? Yes, Rina?"

"Her long, black hair looks amazing."

Correct. Another one? Yes, Theo?

"My favorite teacher looks amazing in her new, shiny, sexy black heels." Theo wink after giving his example.

"Okay, that's good. But I'd like to hear somebody else use another noun, say an animal to be described using the order of adjectives." Keira announced while slightly feeling annoyed. She had been used to the flirty tactics that some boys in her class had openly suggested and thus felt nothing else but plain annoyance and disgust. She had always blamed their flirty nature to their raging and unstable hormones thus making her extend her patience once more just to get going with the lesson.

However this didn't sit well with the Igarashi heir who, together with Maki, was seated at the back of the classroom the entire time. They had requested the principal earlier that they will attend this English class instead of their regular morning schedule due to the urgent meeting they have to attend regarding their upcoming Sports Festival in which the whole school will hold in the next week headed by the Tora. They didn't really have to skip their first period class however to Maki's disappointment, Tora insisted they needed to have the early meeting as if prolonging confrontation to a certain teacher.

Maki's astonishment was barely concealed when he glanced at Tora who had been sitting a little too quietly at his side. To say that Tora is mad is an understatement. Fuming could be the right word, as Maki had realized. However, he could not understand as to what brought Tora to this state. He had been lively a while ago, if teasing and insulting class presidents could count as being lively and not to mention energetic when it comes to the latest update in their upcoming Regional Judo tournament, so what had he been missing that causes Tora's livid state?

"My teacher is a sexy young woman."

Keira wanted to roll her eyes at the remark. This is the last thing she had expected of her class this afternoon to turn out. She had to close her eyes though in order to reign in her temper and mentally prepared a long lecture on their behavior when she heard a slam coming from the opposite end of the room.

There, Tora stood in all his fuming glory, eyeing the last student who had given an example before looking at his teacher.

"Can I also give my example, Ms. Matsumoto?" Tora asked casually though at a glance, one could tell that he's on the edge.

"Eeeh, why is he here?" "Yes, go ahead." Keira congratulated herself for not squeaking. She had no idea why Tora is here, and why he also seemed murderous as of the moment.

"I like people who tend to flirt to a sexy young woman even when it is inappropriate, to die a slow, painful and agonizing death."

"Is that correct, Ms. Matsumoto?"

"Nooo, I mean yes... the order of adjectives that is." Keira felt goosebumps on her neck. She couldn't just fathom what made Tora soo mad as to issue such threat. Surely Tora is upset with something since he had been so good, so concerned of her yesterday. And surely, Tora is not upset with her. Or so she thought.