If many traditions were to be believed then breathing would be at the core of everything we do. Everything, they say, would lead back or come from the breath. Matsu believed this to possibly be true, but he also believed in the power of the sun. Basking in its rays and praising it for its ability to both give and take life away. Not too long before he would have been an ardent disciple of the way the sun took life from those careless enough to tread out into the world beyond Sand's borders. Truly he knew very little of the world beyond Sunagakure and, in turn, this fact painted his landscape for him. Was it not for his meeting with Ichi of the Lizards and Fusen standing by his side that his view of the world would remain so minuscule? His view of the world was simply one thing: Unimportant. Dead. As dead as those things that would stride under the sun without protection. No matter the word chosen, his perspective was utterly limited and that, in and of itself, would not do for the Takahashi. He was, like many of his kin, a craftsman. Until this point, he would call himself an architect of the war, a sculptor of the hunt, or some other nonsense. Now, in his exile, he crafted himself into a smith of art. He crafted statues and monuments to those that had fallen or those that had done great deeds for Sand. His view of things began to shift and with it so did his breathing. With each strike of his hammer and each breath of fire from himself or Fusen, he brought new life into this world through his crafts.
It still came back to his breathing. Taking in the world, reshaping it, and realigning it with the natural order of things. It wasn't without incident as Fusen remained vigilant with his new companion to halt or slow the petrification associated with malpractice and harnessing natural energies. As he took in the air, his body would harden like the earth he was bound to, feather steel rippling across his body like lizard scales. Undulating in constant motion as if trying to settle into a permanent pattern. His sword had been broken and the shards were embedded underneath his skin, fortifying his skin, but causing him moderate discomfort at first. He had spent a decent amount of time simply trying to breathe properly then too, though Fusen helped and ensured that with time he would be able to breathe in a way that was more conducive toward expending less energy. Matsu didn't see himself needing to fight any time soon, but perhaps, possibly, such techniques would come in handy in other ways. As explored, these techniques made their way into his daily practice of work. A way for him to express himself and truly find beauty and sanity in the world around him.
Back story aside and hand waving exactly how Matsu went from being hairless to being covered in hair (Perhaps a gift that came with binding himself to Ichi's contract?), we found Matsu once more in his workshop working on a gift for Ichi on this particular day. For the better part of the day, Matsu found himself pacing around his workshop bringing up various materials and stomping around them trying to decide exactly what it would be that he would create from the material. Proving to be without any real inspiration, Matsu left his home with hopes of pulling inspiration from the beauty that was all around his home. He wanted to give Ichi something that was worthy of his status, though he found it harder and harder to conjure the image of anything that Ichi would actually like. In truth, he had one meeting with the Lord of Lizards and it was not what he would consider a typical meeting. He found himself chewing on the nail of his index finger, deep in thought, frustrated that he couldn't bring something of importance to the holder of his contract. With this, he looked at Fusen who whispered quietly in his ear. He nodded and strode out into the desert through the use of underground caverns to circumvent some detection. Were he caught he could possibly get in some trouble for not leaving the village properly.
He found himself, after a few hours of travel, once more at the pit that he once fell down and made the contract with the lizardfolk. Fusen pointed from time to time and Matsu navigated the labyrinth once more to stride into their domain. Now, perhaps, he was more welcome than he had initially been. He had, after many things considered, made a pact with blood to defend these fine lizards and they would protect him in turn. Fusen was the proof of this, though he was enough of a pacifist that the only things he would often strike were metals with Matsu.
Hours would pass and Matsu would find himself once more in Ichi's court though Ichi was nowhere to be found. Matsu warily proceeded, bowing to various lizards he encountered who, in turn, would greet him. It brought a mild smile to his face and more denizens would greet him more cheerfully. He could even tell that they were smiling in turn despite their lizard features. He took his time greeting and speaking with the various folks who inhabited this land and took stock of their dreams, desires, and needs. Of course, not everything was perfect, but things were decent and their needs were very different if not alien to his own. In time, though the exact range of time that was unknown, Matsu would have Fusen lead him out of the realm of Lizards. He would contemplate his gift and speak with Fusen on the merits of different methods he could employ to help them. They needed no weapons nor statues nor armor to protect them. They were more than capable on their own. These revelations brought the previous smile Matsu had been building through the day to a halt and returned to a neutral, contemplative expression.
Perhaps his friendship was something he could present as the gift. A means to furthering the understanding between both groups. He did not doubt that Ichi had other contracts and deep connections with others, but he felt that this particular path could be his best offer of a gift. Yes, this would be what he would bring to Ichi to foster. He whispered back to Fusen his desires and the Lizard clicked in a way that could be considered laughter. Fusen would depart for a time before returning.
In the time it took Fusen to return, Matsu had retired to his workshop once more to work on some pieces of a new construction project that Sunagakure had been working on. Perhaps it was housing or a new wing of the hospital or something else entirely. He hadn't quite been paying attention to the exact nature of the project. He had only asked for the blueprints so that he could make himself useful to the whole of Suna. As was the usual case, Matsu threw himself into his work and only realized Fusen had returned when the lizard climbed up his body to whisper in his ear. He smiled as his hammer struck metal and Fusen began to breathe flames upon the part to help with the process. He had been somewhat correct in his hopes to strike up a friendship.
It was in these moments that Matsu took his time to breathe in the natural world around him as per usual. Scales once more would sprout from his body, made of feathersteel and fashioned like his previous blade, though this time the scales remained as he worked. Matsu was beginning to become his work and take on the aspects of his contract through more subtle means. The earth welled upon beneath him and slid across his skin protecting him from the heat and allowing him to expedite his process. Once he finished this work, Matsu's skin returned to normal. Exhausted, body aching and mind at its end, Matsu made his way outside to the nice oak bench that was outside his shop.
Matsu sat carefully upon it as Fusen ran off to get him something to drink. While Fusen lapped up the remaining flames, Matsu waited for his companion to return. The lizard returned a short time afterward with some lemonade for Matsu and Matsu thanked him. He smiled and closed his eyes, taking a sip as Fusen climbed up onto the bench and sat like a Pangolin might. He looked up at Matsu and a smile could be seen in a way that only Lizards could smile. Matsu lifted a hand and they high-fived. It had been a day of worthwhile work and the sun began to set. Matsu watched, side-eye, to see it pass into the night. Life and death, in and out, all about the breathing. Perhaps there was something to the living side of the sun that Matsu needed to embrace. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new that would allow him to move beyond his previous conceptions as well as those others had of him. He hoped, in some way, this would help open his world. There was so much more than just his village to look at. The world had more to it than just sand, wind, stone, and the sun. Maybe Matsu had more to him than that as well.
It still came back to his breathing. Taking in the world, reshaping it, and realigning it with the natural order of things. It wasn't without incident as Fusen remained vigilant with his new companion to halt or slow the petrification associated with malpractice and harnessing natural energies. As he took in the air, his body would harden like the earth he was bound to, feather steel rippling across his body like lizard scales. Undulating in constant motion as if trying to settle into a permanent pattern. His sword had been broken and the shards were embedded underneath his skin, fortifying his skin, but causing him moderate discomfort at first. He had spent a decent amount of time simply trying to breathe properly then too, though Fusen helped and ensured that with time he would be able to breathe in a way that was more conducive toward expending less energy. Matsu didn't see himself needing to fight any time soon, but perhaps, possibly, such techniques would come in handy in other ways. As explored, these techniques made their way into his daily practice of work. A way for him to express himself and truly find beauty and sanity in the world around him.
Back story aside and hand waving exactly how Matsu went from being hairless to being covered in hair (Perhaps a gift that came with binding himself to Ichi's contract?), we found Matsu once more in his workshop working on a gift for Ichi on this particular day. For the better part of the day, Matsu found himself pacing around his workshop bringing up various materials and stomping around them trying to decide exactly what it would be that he would create from the material. Proving to be without any real inspiration, Matsu left his home with hopes of pulling inspiration from the beauty that was all around his home. He wanted to give Ichi something that was worthy of his status, though he found it harder and harder to conjure the image of anything that Ichi would actually like. In truth, he had one meeting with the Lord of Lizards and it was not what he would consider a typical meeting. He found himself chewing on the nail of his index finger, deep in thought, frustrated that he couldn't bring something of importance to the holder of his contract. With this, he looked at Fusen who whispered quietly in his ear. He nodded and strode out into the desert through the use of underground caverns to circumvent some detection. Were he caught he could possibly get in some trouble for not leaving the village properly.
He found himself, after a few hours of travel, once more at the pit that he once fell down and made the contract with the lizardfolk. Fusen pointed from time to time and Matsu navigated the labyrinth once more to stride into their domain. Now, perhaps, he was more welcome than he had initially been. He had, after many things considered, made a pact with blood to defend these fine lizards and they would protect him in turn. Fusen was the proof of this, though he was enough of a pacifist that the only things he would often strike were metals with Matsu.
Hours would pass and Matsu would find himself once more in Ichi's court though Ichi was nowhere to be found. Matsu warily proceeded, bowing to various lizards he encountered who, in turn, would greet him. It brought a mild smile to his face and more denizens would greet him more cheerfully. He could even tell that they were smiling in turn despite their lizard features. He took his time greeting and speaking with the various folks who inhabited this land and took stock of their dreams, desires, and needs. Of course, not everything was perfect, but things were decent and their needs were very different if not alien to his own. In time, though the exact range of time that was unknown, Matsu would have Fusen lead him out of the realm of Lizards. He would contemplate his gift and speak with Fusen on the merits of different methods he could employ to help them. They needed no weapons nor statues nor armor to protect them. They were more than capable on their own. These revelations brought the previous smile Matsu had been building through the day to a halt and returned to a neutral, contemplative expression.
Perhaps his friendship was something he could present as the gift. A means to furthering the understanding between both groups. He did not doubt that Ichi had other contracts and deep connections with others, but he felt that this particular path could be his best offer of a gift. Yes, this would be what he would bring to Ichi to foster. He whispered back to Fusen his desires and the Lizard clicked in a way that could be considered laughter. Fusen would depart for a time before returning.
In the time it took Fusen to return, Matsu had retired to his workshop once more to work on some pieces of a new construction project that Sunagakure had been working on. Perhaps it was housing or a new wing of the hospital or something else entirely. He hadn't quite been paying attention to the exact nature of the project. He had only asked for the blueprints so that he could make himself useful to the whole of Suna. As was the usual case, Matsu threw himself into his work and only realized Fusen had returned when the lizard climbed up his body to whisper in his ear. He smiled as his hammer struck metal and Fusen began to breathe flames upon the part to help with the process. He had been somewhat correct in his hopes to strike up a friendship.
It was in these moments that Matsu took his time to breathe in the natural world around him as per usual. Scales once more would sprout from his body, made of feathersteel and fashioned like his previous blade, though this time the scales remained as he worked. Matsu was beginning to become his work and take on the aspects of his contract through more subtle means. The earth welled upon beneath him and slid across his skin protecting him from the heat and allowing him to expedite his process. Once he finished this work, Matsu's skin returned to normal. Exhausted, body aching and mind at its end, Matsu made his way outside to the nice oak bench that was outside his shop.
Matsu sat carefully upon it as Fusen ran off to get him something to drink. While Fusen lapped up the remaining flames, Matsu waited for his companion to return. The lizard returned a short time afterward with some lemonade for Matsu and Matsu thanked him. He smiled and closed his eyes, taking a sip as Fusen climbed up onto the bench and sat like a Pangolin might. He looked up at Matsu and a smile could be seen in a way that only Lizards could smile. Matsu lifted a hand and they high-fived. It had been a day of worthwhile work and the sun began to set. Matsu watched, side-eye, to see it pass into the night. Life and death, in and out, all about the breathing. Perhaps there was something to the living side of the sun that Matsu needed to embrace. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new that would allow him to move beyond his previous conceptions as well as those others had of him. He hoped, in some way, this would help open his world. There was so much more than just his village to look at. The world had more to it than just sand, wind, stone, and the sun. Maybe Matsu had more to him than that as well.