"Asuma, stop!"
I rush forward, squeezing my way between Kakashi and Asuma, who has Kakashi pinned against the wall with his arm pressed hard against his throat.
Kakashi looks disoriented, while Asuma looks ready to burn a hole through him with his glare.
Using every ounce of strength I have, I shove against Asuma's chest, forcing him to stumble backward.
"What the hell is this?" Asuma snaps, gesturing wildly at the scene in front of him.
"It's not like that!" Kakashi quickly starts to explain.
"Bullshit." Asuma spits the words out, his face red with frustration.
I step forward, crossing my arms. "Can you just calm the hell down for a second?" My voice is sharp with irritation.
Asuma's eyes narrow at me, but the color starts to fade from his face as he listens.
"I had a nightmare last night," I explain, trying to keep my voice steady. "Kakashi woke me up. I was crying... screaming, I guess."
I look down, avoiding his gaze.
"It was about Kurenai," I continue quietly. "I was a mess. Kakashi stayed with me because I didn't want to be alone, okay? I just happened to be wearing this to sleep. It's seriously not what it looks like. You need to relax."
Asuma's gaze softens, and he looks at Kakashi, who's still looking shocked. He lets out a deep sigh and rubs his forehead.
The tension between us is thick, but then, to my surprise, Asuma starts to laugh.
"I don't know why I reacted like that. That was stupid as hell. Of course, it's not like that," he says, chuckling. "For fuck's sake, it's you two."
His comment stings more than I care to admit, but I shake it off and laugh a little with him.
"Great, now can we just enjoy the rest of the morning? I'm starving, and you made me burn this damn pancake."
Asuma isn't listening anymore. He's already lit up a cigarette and sprawled out on the couch, his feet up on the coffee table.
"Can I get one of those?" he asks lazily, glancing at me.
Kakashi, recovering from Asuma's earlier outburst, laughs lightly and walks over to grab his shirt from the coffee table. He slips it on and adjusts it with a smirk.
"Is Iruka coming for breakfast?" I ask, hoping for some normalcy.
Saturdays are usually when we all gather for breakfast.
Kurenai used to love having everyone over for pancakes on Saturday mornings. After she passed, we kept the tradition alive, but lately, it seemed like someone was always missing.
The village has been tense, with rumors swirling about the Fourth Great Ninja War, and we've all been pushing ourselves harder than usual. We decided to take a break this weekend.
"I sure am." I hear Iruka's voice before I even see him. He walks in with four cups of coffee in his hands.
"Ugh, you're amazing!" I reach for a cup, barely managing to flip a pancake at the same time.
Iruka hands me the coffee, and I take a grateful sip, not caring that it burns my tongue.
He looks me over for a moment, scratching his head but saying nothing.
"Can I help you with anything, Ami?" he asks, his voice soft and kind.
Iruka moved in with me two years ago after my sister's passing. Once I turned 16, we both realized I was pretty independent and didn't need him living here anymore.
"No, thanks, Iru. I'm almost done," I reply with a smile.
He nods and walks over to where the guys are sitting.
I finish the pancakes, stacking them neatly on a plate, then grab four more plates. I walk over to the couch, where Asuma is still talking about the girl he hooked up with last night.
As I place the plates on the coffee table, Asuma groans.
"My god, Ami, can you put on some pants?" he mutters, irritated.
I roll my eyes and sit on the floor, my breakfast plate in hand. "Kiss my ass."
"I mean, I could... because it's right there." Asuma gestures to my lower half, and I can't help but burst out laughing. Kakashi and Iruka try to hold back their chuckles.
"What's the matter with you? You've seen me in a bikini before, idiot."
Iruka chimes in, "She's got a point."
Asuma stabs two pancakes with his fork and places them on his plate. "It's not the same, and you know it," he grumbles.
"Well, you are in my apartment," I say with my mouth full, grinning at him.
Asuma glances at me, unable to hide the smile forming on his face. I stick my tongue out in victory.
"Besides, you're the one implying I'm being inappropriate, but aren't you still in the same clothes from last night?" I raise an eyebrow, daring him to argue.
He shrugs nonchalantly. "So what? Now you all know I had a good night."
We all laugh at his crude comment.
My phone buzzes next to me, and I grab it to check the text.
Shikamaru:
You left me hanging last night. Found something better to do?
Oops.
Ami:
No, sorry. Drank too much. Free tonight?
Shikamaru:
Always for you… time?
Ami:
11
Shikamaru:
K 😉
I put my phone down and stuff another forkful of pancakes into my mouth.
"You're seriously not going to leave him alone?" Asuma's voice pulls me from my thoughts.
"Shikamaru," he says, clearly annoyed.
"Asuma, Shikamaru's an adult. He makes his own decisions, just like I do. We've been having a casual thing for a while now, and I don't feel like it's interfering with our training at all."
Asuma shakes his head in disapproval. "I'm telling you now, neither of you better become distracted."
"Again, says the guy sitting on my couch in the same clothes from last night." I roll my eyes at him.
"Asuma's right, Ami," Kakashi adds, giving me a serious look. "Just don't let whatever's going on with Shikamaru get in the way of your goals."
I sigh. "You guys act like I'm head over heels for him. It's just sex."
The three of them groan in disgust, and I burst out laughing. They can handle me being an adult, but god forbid I talk about it openly.
"Can we not talk about sex in front of us?" Iruka's dad-tone cuts through my laughter.
I giggle, get up, and head to the sink to wash my plate.