"Papa, can you teach Zeno about the sword you're always carrying?" Zeno said childishly and tugged at his fathers, Ryumaki Denis's sleeve. His father chuckled at him and lifted Zeno's six year old body to his chest.
"This sword is called a Nichirin blade, it is the only thing papa can use to win fights with the demons. You'll probably use one a lot when you're older but first start training with a wooden one. You can start soon, when you turn seven."
Zeno hums, pursing his lips in a thoughtful expression. He already knew that it's used for killing demons, he wants the specifics of why it works on demons when normal blades don't.
"Why is it such a bright yellow?"
"Because papa uses the thunder breathing forms, which you and Zeuxis will likely use as well."
Zeno smiled, not the exact answer he was looking for but at least it told him the breathing form name he will be learning. He pushed himself off his fathers grip and tumbled to the floor. He stood up, and started wildly imitating sword swinging movements with his hands. Swinging his arms around and yelling random words linked to thunder.
He smiled even broader when his once again pregnant mother stepped in with his 1 year old brother Zeuxis.
He hadn't interacted with his brother a lot yet. He was still a baby after all. But he had been helping mother carry things while they went to get wood and she had to carry Zeuxis. He talked to the villagers that day a lot more than usually.
The villagers thought that Denis, Zeno and Zeuxis had odd names, and they were kind of right. Zeno was reasonable to a Japanese person but Zeuxis must sound very odd. Did they even have a proper x? Zeno doesn't remember. Sometimes they butchered Zeuxis's name and it was funny to watch.
His mother coos and rocks Zeuxis in her arms. Zeno jumps up and down in front of her, trying to reach his little brother. She laughs and leans down so Zeno can reach both of their faces.
Zeno giggled and poked his brothers nose. The slightly darker sunshine blonde baby hair got messy as Zeno ruffled his little brothers head. Two pairs of wide brown eyes blinked at him in weirdly confused affection.
It was so good to be a child in a happy family.