Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.
A/N: This was originally planned as part of Losers but I couldn't think of a place, thus a drabble was born.
Granted
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Choji takes nothing for granted.
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Ino takes it for granted that Choji and Shikamaru will always be there. She takes it for granted that when she falls there will always be a Choji to catch her and there will always be a Shikamaru to pick her up and fix her mistakes. She figures she will always be able to throw her arms around each shoulder. She takes it for granted that when they argue, they will always make up. She takes Team Ten for granted.
Shikamaru takes it for granted that Team Ten will eventually cease to exist. He knows forever is just a dream in the life of a ninja. He knows he will someday have to get over their deaths, and he holds back. He doesn't want to love them so much that their deaths will rip him apart, and he takes it for granted that he can stop himself from getting close to them. He takes it for granted the one day they will break.
Choji takes nothing for granted. He takes every word as though it is their last; he takes every mission as their last, every day as their last, because Choji knows what it's like to be alone. Ino is vibrant, Ino is loud and beautiful and outgoing and Ino can make more friends when Choji and Shikamaru are gone, and Shikamaru is smart and a little disconnected and maybe a little odd and he won't notice being lonely because he detaches himself from the rest of the world. But Choji has been lonely before, and Choji has lost people he's loved before, and he knows which of these is the greater evil, so Choji is always the first to apologize after a fight and Choji is the first to catch Ino and the first to pull Shikamaru into the crowd and the first to wish for forever. Choji hopes- Choji hopes they will have forever, Choji hopes Shikamaru will allow himself to take nothing for granted, he hopes Ino will learn to take nothing for granted.
Ino still takes it for granted that they will be there.
Shikamaru still takes it for granted that they will someday not be there.
Choji still hopes. Choji still pulls Shikamaru into the crowd and Choji still catches Ino when she falls. Choji still takes every word, day, mission as their last. Choji still worries more than Ino does, and he still worries more than Shikamaru does. Choji still thanks Asuma's spirit every day for saving their sorry hides so many times. Choji still wonders who will be there to save their asses now. Choji still tries not to worry about that. Choji still pulls Ino back to Earth and Choji still helps Shikamaru let go a little. He still hopes his teammates will learn. Choji thought Asuma's death would correct Ino's thinking, and maybe it would cause Shikamaru to let himself go. It didn't, but Choji still hopes someday something will. Choji still hopes they'll learn.
Choji takes nothing for granted.
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A/N: 500-words again.