Hello everyone, I'm back! I would like to say before I begin that this was supposed to come out literally MONTHS ago. However, both me and my beta were very busy with work plus I was working on an original project (which is no where near done) but I finally got back here to work on this, my last Saiyuki fic! YAY! Now, when I say last, I mean the last in my "series" of stories that relate to each other (Lost Lives, Voice, Sun's Monkey, Halo), and this one is going to be a bit bittersweet. So before we begin, two things to

NOTE: I DO NOT WRITE YAOI. I NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL. Therefore, there will be none of that in this story. There will be father/son moments, which is how I see Sanzo and Goku's relationship, but that is all. My puppy muse Scribble will do our disclaimer!

Scribble: We do not own Saiyuki. We never have and never will, but we will (not so) patiently await new chapters for Saiyuki Reload Blast, which is the final part of the Saiyuki story.

What2callmyself? is awesome because she beta's for me! ^_^

Sun Succession

Prologue

Sanzo held the limp body, growing colder by the second, in his arms while the rain poured around them. "Come on Monkey, get up," he called his ward by the nickname he always called him by, but Goku did not stir.

It had been like other times, at first. Demons attacked, Sanzo and Goku stopped/killed them. But this time was different. This time, as they were about to head back, another demon that seemed to materialize out of nowhere jumped at Sanzo while his back was turned. He had turned just in time to see Goku jump in front of him to shield him, and quickly managed to fire around Goku to hit the demon. The demon died instantly.

Goku fell over and Sanzo wouldn't have thought anything of it-since Goku got knocked over plenty of times- had he not seen the wound.

Three deep gashes made by claws were in his chest and blood seemed to pour out endlessly. Sanzo knelt down to him. He never once in his life imaged Goku could actually be killed by something like this. Goku was the strongest of their group. But now the great sage he rescued so long ago was bleeding out and barely breathing.

Sanzo shook him a little, trying not to hurt him more. "This isn't funny Goku, get up," he said, the worry he was feeling evident in the fact that he called him by name. A terrible coldness took hold in Sanzo. It seemed Goku was really going to die. The last option he had was to take off his diadem in hopes that he could heal himself in time.

He was reaching to unclasp it when he heard a voice. "I'm afraid it's too late. Even if you did do that, it wouldn't be enough. Son Goku will still die." He turned around to see Kanzeon Botatsu standing before him, looking at the two of them rather sadly.

Sanzo stared at her a second before he found his voice. "You're a goddess. Surely you can do something."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry. That I cannot do."

"There must be something that can be done! Something that can save him!"

Kanzeon sighed. "There is, but it requires a sacrifice from you."

Sanzo's eyes widened. "What do you mean? What is it?"

"You can give your life force to him. He will then be able to live out the rest of the life he had before. But in return, you must take his…and you will die."

Sanzo sat there, frozen for a moment. He looked down at Goku, who he wasn't even sure was still alive. He wasn't going to lose him. He came just too close too many other times. And Goku, it seemed, was always protecting him. This time, it would be he who saved Goku.

"I'll do it, but I have one favor to ask."

"And what is that?"

"Whatever lifespan he's meant to have if I do this, take one year off of it."

"One year?"

"Yes. I want to keep just one year. That will give me enough time to get everything in order."

Kanzeon smiled sadly. "Very well then." She closed her eyes and chanted, and a light appeared very faintly in Sanzo and very brightly in Goku. Then she was gone.

At first Sanzo almost thought nothing happened, and that maybe he dreamed the whole thing. Then he felt Goku stir, and heard him groan. "Goku?" he asked softly, almost disbelieving.

Goku's eyes fluttered open to look at him. "Sanzo? Where are we?"

Sanzo sighed, slightly annoyed, but relieved as well. "We're where we always are- near the temple in Cha'ang."

"Sanzo I'm hungry."

"I'm not surprised." He picked up Goku and started to carry him on his back to get back to the temple and get them both something to eat.

And as he walked his gaze was focused. He did not regret saving Goku's life at the cost of his own. He was going to die now, but he knew it was inevitable- he was going to die one day anyway. And one year would be enough.

One year would be just enough time to find a successor to the Sanzo name and the Maten Sutra.

Genjyo Sanzo has one year to live.

Scribble: THIS IS HORRIBLE! ALREADY WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN! WHY?

Me: YOU are the ONLY one who knows what's going to happen! (What2callmyself? –And so do I!) As for everyone reading this…OOOOH THE SUSPENSE! WHAT WILL SANZO DOOOOOO?

Well, you'll just have to wait and see! The next chapter should come out fairly soon, and it will give some direction to where this story is going. Ah, I'm so happy to be back for another multi-chapter fic!

And yes, I KNOW Kanzeon is a bit out of character…I made her a bit like the original Journey to the West's Merciful Goddess. I'm going to make her her normal whimsical self again whenever she shows up next. So thank you all for reading! Tell me what you think! Worthless flames telling me I suck without telling me how to improve are awful. Constructive criticism is helpful and appreciated. Good reviews are always loved! Long Live the Sanzo-ikkou!

-titangirl161