Lifelines

Author: Dark Hearted Shinobi

Disclaimer: Don't own Saiyuki

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I look down at my hand as I sit on the back of Hakaru with Gojyo. I keep tracing my lifeline with my eyes, remembering what Gojyo had said about a short lifeline compared to a long one. He's lucky in a way. He has a long life, while I have a quite short one. "Right now, I'm wishing that my lifeline was just a teensy bit longer than it is at the moment."

"Yeah?" Gojyo replies, his voice questioning of my statement.

I laugh a bit to myself. "Guess that means that I'll just have to get used to the idea that . . . I'm going to have to make the most of the short time that I have left here." I sigh inwardly, hoping beyond hope that I could have more time on this earth. There is so much I have left to atone for . . . and so little time. . .

"No!" Goku's voice slices through my thoughts. "I've got a better idea! Try this!" He grabs my hand, drawing along my lifeline with a black marker. "Yeah?"

I look at my hand, faintly hearing Sanzo beating up Goku in the background, but it isn't the first thing on my mind. I stare at the black line along my hand, a small smile growing on my lips. A longer lifeline, huh? I guess it's a good thing. I don't have to atone for the sins of my past anymore, rather, I can begin to live for myself, to enjoy life. If only it was longer. . . but Goku fixed that fact, right? "Kannan, I'd like to live for myself just a little while longer." I say softly. A crease grows between my eyebrows as I realize something. "Awww. This is permanent ink."

"Hm?" Gojyo asks. He looks at my hand, and smirks. "Yup. Permanent ink."

"Will you look at that?" I ask, feigning disgust. "It's not going to come off!"

"Nope. Not coming off." Gojyo agrees, his voice level, but I know he's laughing at me inside.

I can hear Sanzo saying it's time to leave and I move to the driver's seat. I can hear everyone arguing around me, but I can't pay attention to them. My mind is on what Goku did for me. My friends . . . they all mean so much to me. Perhaps . . . someday I will be able to atone for my sins. But for now, I'm just going to live and live for myself, rather than live for my past.

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Well? What did ya'll think? All the dialogue is taken straight from the show. I can't remember the episode… Hope ya like it!