Part II: Metal
"Metal is a substance of purpose. Once it is set to that purpose, it becomes ill suited for anything else. After all, you do not want to plow a field with a sword, or shave your head with a horseshoe." Dr. Yang gestured with the silver-white paper, twitching the first folds into place.
Sanzo had spent the better part of a frustrating afternoon listening to Gojyo describe various demon customs to Yang, Hakkai and Goku. Nothing he heard was useful to him, or his search. Demons were an isolated, clannish lot, and the actions of one group were of little concern to others. He left the group without an apology, and stalked off into the snow.
Eight years, and he was falling farther and farther away from his master's killers. In that time, two more Sanzos had dropped out of sight, three scriptures missing. All he had to show for his endless search were three demonic tagalongs, several bad habits, a blood-stained conscious and the strong feeling that his chain was being yanked.
He had agreed to assist the Sanbutsushin in Chang-an in return for aid in recovering the Seiten Scripture, but after four years he still had nothing. Four years, and a group of supposedly omniscient beings had come up with squat. Only two scriptures left, what the hell are you doing up there, throwing a party?
There was no answer, but then, he wasn't expecting one. He was only spoken to when they wanted something.
Back in his office, Sanzo picked up the afternoon's correspondence, idly slipping on his glasses as he scanned through them. Most of it he dumped on his secretary, but one piece caught his attention. Sanzo had been spending fair amount of the Sanbutsushin's credit on buying whatever scraps of information he could acquire on odd happenings.
"It is believed that the demon in question is using both sorcery and technology in his experiments. There have been several disappearances in the surrounding towns, and sightings of several unnatural beasts in the area."
Sanzo pulled out several maps, and traced out the route. Even with winter not yet fading, there was a passable river course that would serve. "Find out what barges are ready to leave, and charter one. Make sure it's a bonded crew, I've had it with those flaky independents."
"I… yes Sanzo-sama. What should I bring?"
"Bring?" Sanzo spared his secretary an irritated glance. "This isn't a social call, Toga. You're not going. Clear my appointments, I don't know when I'll be back." With three strides he hit the door and the priest was striding for his quarters, his bellow summoning Goku like a shot from the infirmary. This lead may be as worthless as the last five, but if he didn't go, he'd never be sure.
The secretary, Toga, watched as Sanzo and Goku were joined at the gates less than an hour later by Dr. Yang's two "special students". He watched as they exchanged a few words with Sanzo, and the priest finally shrugging as all four walked out. "Why not me? Why didn't you choose me?" Jealousy twisted deep inside.
The shimmering paper joined it's golden counterpart, the pin keeping them nested together. "It requires a skilled hand to form and shape Metal, a carelessly made tool will not last long and as healers, you must learn to recognize these flaws. If they grow too serious, the person will break. Trying to reforge broken Metal is difficult, and what comes out is never as sound as the original."
The next sheet of paper emerged, one side blue, the other green. "Much like Metal, Wood can be shaped and set to a purpose, but sometimes it is just best to see how it grows." His gaze fell upon his dark haired apprentice, and cool green eyes met Yang's.
"Metal is a substance of purpose. Once it is set to that purpose, it becomes ill suited for anything else. After all, you do not want to plow a field with a sword, or shave your head with a horseshoe." Dr. Yang gestured with the silver-white paper, twitching the first folds into place.
Sanzo had spent the better part of a frustrating afternoon listening to Gojyo describe various demon customs to Yang, Hakkai and Goku. Nothing he heard was useful to him, or his search. Demons were an isolated, clannish lot, and the actions of one group were of little concern to others. He left the group without an apology, and stalked off into the snow.
Eight years, and he was falling farther and farther away from his master's killers. In that time, two more Sanzos had dropped out of sight, three scriptures missing. All he had to show for his endless search were three demonic tagalongs, several bad habits, a blood-stained conscious and the strong feeling that his chain was being yanked.
He had agreed to assist the Sanbutsushin in Chang-an in return for aid in recovering the Seiten Scripture, but after four years he still had nothing. Four years, and a group of supposedly omniscient beings had come up with squat. Only two scriptures left, what the hell are you doing up there, throwing a party?
There was no answer, but then, he wasn't expecting one. He was only spoken to when they wanted something.
Back in his office, Sanzo picked up the afternoon's correspondence, idly slipping on his glasses as he scanned through them. Most of it he dumped on his secretary, but one piece caught his attention. Sanzo had been spending fair amount of the Sanbutsushin's credit on buying whatever scraps of information he could acquire on odd happenings.
"It is believed that the demon in question is using both sorcery and technology in his experiments. There have been several disappearances in the surrounding towns, and sightings of several unnatural beasts in the area."
Sanzo pulled out several maps, and traced out the route. Even with winter not yet fading, there was a passable river course that would serve. "Find out what barges are ready to leave, and charter one. Make sure it's a bonded crew, I've had it with those flaky independents."
"I… yes Sanzo-sama. What should I bring?"
"Bring?" Sanzo spared his secretary an irritated glance. "This isn't a social call, Toga. You're not going. Clear my appointments, I don't know when I'll be back." With three strides he hit the door and the priest was striding for his quarters, his bellow summoning Goku like a shot from the infirmary. This lead may be as worthless as the last five, but if he didn't go, he'd never be sure.
The secretary, Toga, watched as Sanzo and Goku were joined at the gates less than an hour later by Dr. Yang's two "special students". He watched as they exchanged a few words with Sanzo, and the priest finally shrugging as all four walked out. "Why not me? Why didn't you choose me?" Jealousy twisted deep inside.
The shimmering paper joined it's golden counterpart, the pin keeping them nested together. "It requires a skilled hand to form and shape Metal, a carelessly made tool will not last long and as healers, you must learn to recognize these flaws. If they grow too serious, the person will break. Trying to reforge broken Metal is difficult, and what comes out is never as sound as the original."
The next sheet of paper emerged, one side blue, the other green. "Much like Metal, Wood can be shaped and set to a purpose, but sometimes it is just best to see how it grows." His gaze fell upon his dark haired apprentice, and cool green eyes met Yang's.