The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn – Chapter 11: Your Heart is My Sky

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

A/N: I'm slightly drunk again! I shouldn't write when I'm tipsy because it slows down my thought process and my typing speed, but I can't really do anything about it at this point. I have a taste for good white wine :P I have a good excuse though: I have to write this really boring essay on some play and I realised I come across as a Marxist Feminazi, so I need to get drunk before I have a serious identity crisis (again). In addition to being slightly drunk, I am exhausted and I have bruises the size of Siberia on my arms and legs from sparring…Uh, trust me, do NOT spar with a guy twice your height and about three times your weight, even under controlled condition. It fucking hurts! No matter how good you are, it still hurts! Blocking involves putting parts of your body between an incoming fist or kick and squishier parts of your body! Urk! Song of the chapter is 'Everytime We Touch' by Cascada, and touching there will be! Although not necessarily the type we really like :( Well, not just yet – Iruka's only just warming up to Kakashi, so we need to give them time :D

This is thinking/dreaming.

This is regular story.

This is author's note.

This is title

Warnings: No sex, although you're going to kill me for what I don't put in…There is one point where I could easily put in some groping/lime/maybe a lemon, but I'm not going to because it would be out of character and inappropriate. Feel free to complain at me about it, though! Swearing as standard, guys, because having a potty mouth is normal these days…or at least for this fic.

Disclaimer: Although I don't know a lot about Kishimoto, I do know a lot about getting your ass kicked in sparring. And I hold that against you, Kishi, and I will until my bruises clear up. Guess what? I'm AB, and in addition to my cool, controlled, rational, unforgiving, indecisive, critical nature, I bruise like a banana. And I have really pale skin :S But I don't own Naruto. Yeah. I'm still pissed about the bruising because it's a mark of my defeat :( It's a matter of pride! I will defeat you one day, Roger!

oO..Oo..oO..Oo

'Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling

And every time we kiss, I swear I could fly

Can you feel my heart beat fast?

I want this to last

Need you by my side

oO..Oo..oO..Oo

"To your left, we have the residential block where our some of our researchers live during extended projects, and to your right is the station itself. The majority of our projects are centred around crop research, and the usage of certain chemicals in different regions and circumstances is paramount to…" The guide rambled. Most of the students looked where she pointed, first towards the small block of houses then towards the much larger metal and glass structure of the research facility. "Normally, I would take you across one of the fields, but the snow is coming down rather heavily and I don't want to keep you outside in this weather, so we're staying inside instead,"

I took up my position at the back of the line of students, herding the stragglers inside. I shivered, regretting leaving my coat at home. Kakashi was leading the students, talking to the guide at the front of the line. The loss of the umbrella left me open to the falling snow, flakes falling onto my hair and my eyelashes. I ran a hand over them, trying to brush out what I could. Snow was pretty, but worry snaked into my gut; I had the most horrible feeling we were going to get stuck out here.

I shot a glance at the parked coach, the driver reading a newspaper behind the wheel. If the driver made a break for it because of the weather, I would personally set Tsunade on him. And tell her that she had taken her sake.

The facility was much warmer on the inside. Even though the outside walls were mostly glass, the heating system was very efficient. Heat radiated up from the floors and out of strategically placed heaters, most kids shedding their coats and scarves as we worked our way deeper into the building.

I looked back out of a window, only to see the coach disappearing through the snow. My fists closed in anger; that bastard was leaving us here! That was definitely not part of his job description! There was no way I was going to be stranded in this place with nothing but a bunch of teenagers, a pack of nerdy scientists and Kakashi-sensei for company. Hell, forget setting Tsunade on him, I was going to tear him limb from limb myself.

I made my way around the back of the students, all standing stock still and listening, or in a few cases, taking notes, on what one rather enthusiastic scientist was babbling about. I had to tell Kakashi about the lack of transport, since it was now his problem. I smirked a little; this wasn't an easy trap to get out of.

"…so anyway, that's why quantum theory explains consciousness, since regular mechanics can't. It's all superposition and quantum entanglement inside the brain that gives rise to brain function, ergo consciousness," Kakashi said, gesturing with one hand. He was talking to the guide, who was staring at his covered face through her glasses with the same fangirl eyes too many of the students seemed to have. He seemed completely oblivious to it, and continued talking. "I agree, however, with Chalmers on the fact that we seem to speculate that everything complicated that we don't really understand we automatically label 'quantum something-or-other', including brain function, and that computational and neural theories hold a lot of weight as well,"

"But what about Stapp's approach?" The girl replied, shifting a little closer to him. "I think the philosophical implications of his approach are far more interesting, what with the whole 'universe is constantly evolving by choice' thing. I love having difference choices, don't you?" She reached forwards to place a hand on his arm. I sped up my pace, frowning.

"Kakashi-sensei, the coach is gone," I spoke maybe a little too loudly, causing the girl to jerk back like she'd been burned. "I thought you should know,"

"It looks like we'll have to stay here, then," he looked down at the girl, eye full of something that made something in my chest twinge. "Can you put us up for the night?"

"I have to clear it with the site manager, but feel free to use our living quarters for as long as you like," There was a bit too much emphasis on the 'you'.

"Thanks, I'm really grateful," Kakashi's eye curved up into its happy little arch, and the twinge got worse. An incredibly small, very childish part of me was actually jealous. I squashed it quickly, and pretended I didn't feel anything.

"Alright, on with the tour!" She clapped a pair of perfectly manicured hands together. "Could you finish up over there, please?"

"Right," I grumbled, watching as Kakashi walked away with her in tow, her hips swaying just a little too much, and her body too close to his. I pursed my lips, resisting the urge to death-glare her.

But there was nothing wrong with her flirting with him at all. It was good if women showed interest in him, if he got a girlfriend and put a stop to all these ridiculous rumours. If at least one of us proved we weren't gay, then Tsunade and every other person at school would stop trying to push us together, right? The guide was cute, a little overenthusiastic and perky, but she was cute. She was physically well proportioned.

I tried to imagine her with no clothes on.

Nothing.

In a wild moment of complete stupidity, I tried to imagine Kakashi with no clothes on.

By the gods.

I quickly repressed absolutely everything and walked forward rather robotically, catching up with the group again. A couple of kids gave me a slightly odd look as I walked forward stiffly, furiously pulling my jumper down.

By the time the tour was finished, the snow was too thick to even consider calling the coach company up and demanding they send a driver. It was beyond dangerous to drive in this weather, and the roads were likely blocked already. So instead, we herded the kids across the courtyard towards the block of housing for the residential researchers. Fortunately, a full apartment was free, consisting of three rooms and a bathroom. We split the kids between the two main rooms, girls in one and boys in the other, blankets and bedsheets and cushions donated left, right and centre from the long-term residents. The guide looked rather disappointed that Kakashi wasn't going to spend the night with her. I was secretly very pleased. It was horribly trashy to sleep with someone on a school trip!

Then came the awkward decision of the room for the teachers. The third room was the smallest, mostly because the floor space was taken up by one large double bed.

"I'm not sharing a bed with you," I stated, refusing to look at Kakashi.

"Then where do you plan on sleeping?" Boredom crept into his voice, his eye mocking through the low light from the bedside lamp. He began to peel off his jacket, and I looked away quickly.

"The floor," I said quickly.

"Not enough space," He replied.

"The kids' room," The jacket hit the floor.

"Not enough bedding," His shirt crept up to reveal his stomach.

"The ceiling," His face was covered by the cloth.

"Too much gravity," The shirt hit the floor.

"God, anywhere but here!" I swept a hand over my eyes. I was tired, too tired to be making a fuss about sleeping arrangements. It was just a bed. It didn't matter. We were both normal guys, sharing a bed shouldn't be a problem. I was out of options. "Fine. I don't care, do whatever,"

"Great!" His eye curved up into a smile again, but this time for me. Blood rushed to my cheeks, and I was suddenly grateful for the lack of lighting.

I turned my back to him and began to pull my own jumper over my head, keeping my eyes shut for as long as possible. I had to open them again to undo the buttons on my shirt, but I snuck a glance back when I got to my trousers. Kakashi stood behind me, looking in the mirror, combing fingers through his hair. The mask and eye patch were still firmly in place, but every other item of clothing was gone.

Including boxers.

My heart almost stopped. There was no way in hell I was going to take my underwear off and share a bed with this guy in a billion years, but I couldn't tell him to put his underwear back on. I couldn't see it in the pile of clothes on the floor. Did he go commando? On a school trip? My eyes bulged at the thought.

I dropped my trousers and shot under the quilt, covering as much of my body as possible.

"Maa…Iruka-sensei, I'm not going to molest you in your sleep or anything," he drawled, eyebrow rising. He walked forward, and I kept my eyes firmly on his face. Anything below shoulders was strictly forbidden. Especially his-

"I didn't think you would," I said defensively, moving my eyes to stare at the far wall. "We're two adult men; we don't do that kind of thing,"

"Well, that depends. If my partner is willing, then I certainly will," I froze. Was that- "Don't be so uptight about everything, sensei. We live in the twenty-first century, it's perfectly acceptable."

The bedside lamp flickered out, and the bed depressed next to me.

I wasn't going to get any sleep tonight, either.

oO..Oo..oO..Oo

A/N: Kakashi is gay! Yay! (And so is Iruka, really, he just won't say so yet :3). So, we have cute/awkward not-lemon, which I apologise for, but seriously. Dude. That boring physics thing back there was about how quantum theory may or may not relate to consciousness. It's really fascinating but it's incredibly hard to wrap your head around. I tried and I gave myself a headache, so I had to go and eat an apple danish. I love those :3 Oh, and a cup of tea to nurse my bruises with. Arg! It's going to annoy me all week! I must go train! Raoar! (review)