Author's Notes - This is dedicated to Hatochan. More than my muse, also my confidante; thank you for giving me back faith in myself and my writing "Oh, senseiii…." ;) evil grin

Story Notes

This story occurs several weeks after the conclusion of "Odd Admiration" within the Tolerant Intolerance universe, with permission from Hatochan

Story title comes from Big Country's "Fields of Fire"

The gakuran is the male uniform worn by many middle and high school students in Japan. It is modeled on Meiji era formal military dress which was in turn (according to Wikipedia) modeled on either European naval or Prussian army uniforms. A noticeably longer, shorter, or differently colored jacket denotes a tough "Yankee" style or rebellious character in many animes.

Will be updated as real life permits :) My husband comes home from Iraq less than a month from now, so if I disappear with no word for a week or so , you know I'm uhhh busy… yeah that's it… researching, as Jiraiya would say :)

Warnings: yaoi, coarse language (glares at Genma), violence will eventually be rated NC-17. Specific warnings posted for each chapter. First few chapters no worse than PG-13.

Disclaimer: You know Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto, because if I owned them, yaoi pairings would be canon… 'We're Not in Kansas' lyrics belong to Big Country

// Well dog, I know we're not in Kansas—the sky's all colored wrong
I know we're not in Kansas—the days are all too long
I sure don't understand this—that's what you're howling for
I know we're not in Kansas, Kansas anymore //

Between the Journey and the Rest, Chapter 1:

We're Not in Kansas

"But where are we going?" asked Kakashi.

Iruka stopped and turned to look at him. "Do you trust me?"

"Implicitly."

Iruka reached up to readjust Kakashi's hitai-ate, covering both eyes. "Then just come with me. No more questions, no peaking..." He thought for a second and continued more sternly "And don't cheat and use your chakra, either... This is supposed to be a surprise." …a pleasant surprise to take his lover's mind off the near unceasing rounds of training he had subjected himself to over the last several weeks.

Kakashi nodded.

The chuunin suspected his lover would be more than intelligent enough to perceive their destination if they followed a direct route, so he chose a more meandering course. They wandered through early evening's fading sunlight, smudges of storm clouds appearing in the distance, and one of Iruka's hands rested at his companion's lower back, guiding. Kakashi spared a few thoughts for the younger man's ability to lead him so easily through the village's streets without even a stumble, avoiding obstacles while preventing any hint of their final objective from leaking into his senses even as Iruka brought them to a halt.

The instructor questioned him, "Do you still trust me?"

Oddly enough, he could still read the expression on Kakashi's face, even through the mask with only a strip of forehead showing under the unruly thatch of silver hair. How does a person who keeps such iron control of his emotions manage to show so much on his face?

"Iruka..." the older man almost whined, and the instructor was reminded, not for the first time, of his young charges, but he had to forcibly steer his thought away from that line of thought if he ever had a hope of making it through this evening with his sanity intact. "Surely you know how much I trust you by now?"

"Alright then. I need you to let me do two things. I will not let you spoil this surprise and I know you feel like you're dying of curiosity. And although I also trust you, with my very life, I know you too... and your intelligence gathering abilities, even blindfolded. You'll cheat without even meaning to, so I need you to let me throw that modified version of the fujikomero that we use on prisoners on you... I know that's hard enough since that particular muzzle is unsettling. But..." here he paused, "I can't tell you the other thing I am going to do after I throw the muzzle on you. That's where the trust is going to come in."

Iruka could almost see Kakashi blink under the headband as his mind processed those statements.

"I've had that cast on me so many times when I've been captured and in anti-torture training; I know how to handle it. I do trust you, you know. I can tell the difference between an enemy and an ally. And you know how much more you are. Do your worst," Kakashi tossed back.

"Alright." The darker man formed the seals of the jutsu that would effectively surround his lover in a net through which no sensory information could pass. The last thing the copy nin heard before the curtain of darkness settled over him was, "Your patience will be rewarded in a few more minutes, love."

Kakashi switched instantly into a relaxed version of mission mode. He didn't allow full-blown tension and paranoia to kick in, but he needed the tighter control over his own thoughts it allowed. The muzzle was uncomfortable and unsettling, which was only one of the reasons for its use among interrogators. It also blocked all sensory input, which was the main reason it was just so unsettling. It allowed interrogators to lead their captives places without worrying about security breaches, and he knew that was why Iruka had chosen it. Even if he consciously made the effort not to learn where he was being led, he knew his mind might just perceive it from a stray piece of information filtering through. At his skill level, as little as one sound or smell could pinpoint his exact position in the village.

This was his first time experiencing this 'not-feeling' around Iruka, however, and he couldn't help seeing the interesting possibilities. Something in his mind took over, supplying some very interesting visions. His inner pervert smiled at the thought of a naked Iruka, hands bound to the headboard above him. His chakra control and understanding of this jutsu were enough that he knew he could modify it to allow only certain senses or affect only parts of his lover. He smiled as his mind supplied a feather, a candle, and a bowl of ice cubes. He thought some more and a bottle of scented oil appeared as the room glowed in the light of several dozen candles, one of Iruka's more sensual musical selections played in the background, strong beat and choral chanting enhancing the intimate mood. Hehehe… it sounded like music from a soundtrack of monk porn… His mind added a set of icy blue satin sheets, enjoying the contrast between them and his warm brown lover.

He was forcibly brought back from this pleasant place as a distinctly glacial tingle invaded his body... Hmm, some sort of genjutsu... What is Iruka up to, now? He had no more time to wonder as his body was somehow made to walk a short distance, all the while mourning his lost fantasy. I know he's good, but that really takes an expert amount of control. He had just decided to return to his earlier pleasant musings of a naked bound Iruka when he felt the containment jutsu draining away. That was his last coherent thought for several long moments. He stared in utter confusion before his mind made up for it's momentary inactivity by kicking into bustling overdrive.

His Iruka, his wonderfully blushing sometimes shy schoolteacher, Iruka... he... he... Kakashi gulped and shifted against a sudden and immediately painful arousal as he saw his Iruka wearing a white button down shirt, loosened tie, and khaki slacks, strands of hair escaping from his ponytail... wearing wire-rimmed reading glasses... Kakashi imagined him standing behind that desk... in his classroom... his desk... his classroom... those glasses... Kakashi just stared at Iruka with a ludicrously adorable combination of confusion and pure lust. ohhh, sensei...

Iruka chucked inwardly at the expression on Kakashi's face. I wonder how much he has even noticed? I bet he still hasn't gotten past the 'ohhh, sensei...' part in his mind. Iruka slowly walked towards Kakashi, looking down at his dumbstruck lover.

More and more awareness filtered into Kakashi's already overloaded brain. He vaguely realized he was sitting in a chair in the classroom and that the room was lit softly with several scattered groups of candles. Something not quite right tugged at his brain as Iruka walked past him and he had to look up more than he felt he should have to. He looked down at himself and gasped in amazement. That was the genjutsu I thought I felt... This must just be a modification of Naruto's oiroke no jutsu and a simple henge. I look almost like when I was 17, although I think I was a just a little more awkward and unfinished looking then. Hmm and a civilian student uniform... the gakuran jacket is noticeably longer than it should be on a school uniform. Does he see me as a rebellious teen? He stared up in dumb amazement at Iruka, not wanting to break this spell.

Iruka walked to the black board. Kakashi saw the notes on advanced chakra theory already written on the board before him as the academy instructor pulled down a chart and pointer. Kakashi's eyes slid across that tight ass both revealed and concealed by the khakis and drifted up Iruka's profile before being captured completely by that intriguing bit of wire and glass. He has reading glasses. Why have I never seen him wear those glasses? Why is he wearing glasses? He has perfect vision...Those glasses… Mismatched eyes glazed and lost focus, thoughts tumbled chaotically in his head, and he gazed unseeingly at the blackboard. A low rumble of thunder sounded somewhere in the distance.

"Hatake-kun, let's start with a review. Name the seven chakra centers and the parts of the body each controls."

Kakashi cocked his lead slightly to one side in a familiar manner as he considered the question.

Iruka chuckled inwardly as he watched Kakashi rattle off the standard textbook answer while wondering what relevance it had to this discussion. He plays the confused student so well… I'm mildly surprised he's managed to hold out and not just ask for me to spank him... hmmm, or try to seduce me into fucking him over my desk...He must really want this to not rush into it... Still, when did he ever start showing such control... well in the bedroom anyway... the only time he is this controlled and focused is when repressing his emotions or on a mission... He's still that distracted, hmm? Then this will definitely be worth overcoming any little hang-ups I might have about the whole sensei thing.

Outwardly he continued the lesson, wondering how long before Kakashi would actually settle down enough to actually realize the import of the lesson. Iruka discoursed at length on the effects of both blocking certain chakra points and sending excess chakra to those same points. There was another inner smirk as he realized Kakashi still didn't see what he was alluding to. "Hatake-kun." Kakashi's eyes snapped to the front of the room. "Come up to the chart and point out the strongest areas of the chakra pathways."

Kakashi stood up and approached the chart. He then indicated the seven main centers running through the center of the body.

I can't believe he's held out this long. Not even a smart-ass remark or a paper shuriken. Maybe he's worried I'll stop if he gets out of hand. Time for me to up the ante... Iruka silently came up to Kakashi, standing right behind him. "Now what does the chart show you at each of those seven areas?" Iruka almost purred the words at Kakashi, knowing the tone would either give Kakashi the answer Iruka was looking for or at least tease the man into action.

"Each area is a cluster of multiple smaller lines joining together, surrounding important organs of the body," recited Kakashi perfectly.

Iruka leaned in so close their bodies almost touched. "And what is the quickest way to stimulate chakra flow externally, in another person's body?" Iruka asked, his tone low and hushed, almost whispering behind Kakashi's ear.

"By stimulating each cluster with a chakra pulse of the properly corresponding resonance, sensei."

"Very good, return to your seat, Hatake-kun." Iruka walked back to the desk to grab a copybook and pencil and brought them to Kakashi. He loomed over him as he announced the pop quiz asking for five different methods for stimulating energy in and around the base chakra, and the biological ramifications, positive and negative, for each one. He wondered how long before Kakashi realized exactly just what he was really asking for and what his reaction would be. This promised to be a very entertaining evening.

Kakashi just looked up as Iruka handed him the test materials. Iruka didn't release them immediately, his hand brushing the younger looking male's hand as he held tight to the thin notebook, arching one eyebrow as he looked down at his student. "Umm, thank you, sensei," Kakashi finally stammered and blushed, fumbling with the items.

I can't believe he is still reacting this strongly. It's cute in a way, he acts almost like one of the younger first year students, although that's not quite the reaction I expected to receive for one of his fondest fantasies being enacted for his benefit.

Kakashi looked almost unseeingly at the pages in front of him, trying to see what answers Iruka wanted from him. He cast back in his mind trying to replay Iruka's lecture and draw the desired answers from the information Iruka had just given, not from what he already knew of the subject.

Iruka sat at his desk, pretending to mark papers, looking down over the rims of those glasses, seemingly unaware of the struggle going on before him.

Kakashi became increasingly agitated as the warring information in his brain further affected him. He knew what the answer should be, but from what he vaguely remembered Iruka saying, that couldn't be the answer he wanted from him... His brow furrowed as his frustration deepened, but he started feverishly scribbling in his book. The thunder sounded again, slightly closer this time.

Iruka sent another hidden glance at Kakashi. He is taking this so seriously. Why hasn't he purposely misbehaved and smirked and asked me to punish him yet? That's the first thing I would think he would want me to do. He's so quiet and serious. He could feel another rumble of thunder through the desk, this one quite a bit nearer. That may shape up to be quite a storm in the next hour if it keeps up. Might be a good idea considering the amount of noise he expected his lover to make over the next few hours. "Five minutes remaining," he announced to his lone pupil.

Kakashi just increased the frantic rate of his scrawl, if that was possible. His hand fairly flew over the pages, almost pouring the information from his brain straight onto the page. Iruka stared at the sheer volume of material Kakashi was imparting for what was supposed to be a simple but rewarding scene. It had been difficult enough to overcome his own reservations, but a good portion of their role-playing was to work through problems and make them stronger, both separately and as a couple. He knew he had no desires for young children in that way, so it was time to overcome the aversion he had always felt for this fantasy of Kakashi's and make their shared bond of trust even stronger in the process. If things went well enough he might even get to extend the scene with Kakashi and keep the teacher student seduction tableau intact through the whole period of lovemaking. There were, after all, two ways for this to play out. Teachers could be seduced and wooed as well, and both men had more than enough creativity to come up with enjoyable ideas for either scenario. The role-playing was a well-deserved reward for the increased levels of trust and sharing his lover had increasingly displayed over the last several months.

"Time," he announced. "Turn in your quiz." This last was punctuated by a flickeringincandescence of light and the near instantaneous thunderclap directly overhead; the sharp tang of ozone permeated the air as a prickling static raised the hairs on their bodies.

"I said 'Time,' Hatake-kun," drawled the teacher in a low, forceful manner as he brought the pointer sharply down against the desk beside him.

Kakashi floundered, opening his mouth a few times before answering all in a breathless rush "I'm sorry, sensei, the thunder… I didn't hear…" the words stumbled from his lips.

Kakashi brought himself to his feet and approached slowly with his test. Iruka saw him shuffle forward, his shoulders slumped forward just slightly and he raised his eyes directly to Kakashi's face with a worried glance. Just then, another louder burst of thunder exploded nearby and the whole room seemed to shake. He saw Kakashi startle, so like a frightened child that he knew there was something more than a kinky scene playing out between them.

"Kakashi." He lifted his lover's chin to stare into those mismatched orbs and gasped as he was pulled into the strong emotion shining forth so clearly from those suddenly young looking eyes, one ordinarily veiled physically, the other spiritually. "Kashi, love, are you ok?" He could hear the wind starting to pick up outside the classroom and saw the blood drain from the already pale face, leaving a slightly ashen tint.

The copy-nin shook his head back and forth, dislodging the chuunin teacher's hand, as he backed slowly away. "No, I didn't do anything wrong, Sir. No, Keberu-san, no!" the sharp protest was ripped from the throat of the jounin seconds before he twisted and fled the room in a swift silver blur.

The split second's hesitation as Iruka's jaw dropped in shock was all the older man needed to escape completely. "Kakashi?!? What the hell?" He rushed into the empty hallway in time to see the double doors swing shut, blocking out the driving rain.