Master of Dragons Exploration

Jiro couldn't protest that.

"We wouldn't even have met if not for you," Ermes agreed. And if Jiro hadn't left her and pushed Ryuu to be with her then the little ones wouldn't be there either.

"Okay, fair," Jiro said. He looked down at the little baby. "Tanjiro," he said. "I'm going to be the best uncle I can be..." But he felt sad. He wouldn't get to see them grow up. By the time he remembered anything, they would be grown.

Ryuu could tell, it made him sad as well. "I will make sure to have scrapbooks and videos made up for you," he said with a small smile, so that when Jiro did return he would find out all the things he had missed.

"Thank you," Jiro said. He knew that even when he remembered, he would still be with Drake. And he wouldn't leave him until Drake either passed on or no longer had need of him. By then all the children would be grown. He would miss much. But the right path was never easy. Sacrifices were required. He took a breath and smiled. He didn't want to be sad. This was a great day for them all. "So what about the other?" he asked.

"I like Seiichi," Ermes said. She knew that Ryuu could have his own name in mind but she was just putting it out there that she had a name she liked to go with Tanjiro's name.

Ryuu felt there was enough Ryuu's in the world currently without adding another, so he was happy with Seiichi, it matched Tanjiro. "I like it, too." He said with a smile.

"Oh good," Ermes breathed. She was exhausted but she didn't want to give up her little one just yet. They were so cute and adorable. Happy little babies. Sleepy too.

The day had arrived.

Finally, after many, many long and sometimes depressing years. Though everything had changed for the better for him, Mireya's soul being reborn was still a really important day for him. He had dressed and readied himself, along with helping the boys to be ready for the day.

He had even let Ermes sleep in, while he dealt with their breakfast and things. Hers was now waiting for her on the bed for when she woke up, but he was sure by now she was ready for the day and to take care of their twins while he was gone for a little bit. "Seiichi, Tanjiro." He called out to the twins who were playing happily on the floor somewhere in the house. He could hear them, but he wanted to say goodbye.

"Come say goodbye to daddy."

Tanjiro responded immediately, dropping the toys he had been playing with and pushing himself to his feet. "Chichi," he said to his brother and held out his hand.

Seiichi didn't want to leave his toys but Daddy had summoned them. He stood up and took his brother's hand to walk together to where their father was to say goodbye.

Ermes was up and ready to take the little ones. She was giving them their time was their father. She knew this was a big day for him.

Tanjiro walked with his brother and then ran towards his daddy when they got close enough. They were both swooped up and into his arms and covered in kisses which made him giggle.

"Daddy is going out for a little while, you'll be good for mummy right?" He asked, with a very serious look. Tanjiro nodded, but he had that look. That mischievous look and Ryuu just laughed, he couldn't help it.

"We're good!" Seiichi answered his father. He would be good. His twin? Probably not but he was trying to put out there that they'd be good. He didn't want his twin to get into trouble. Again.

"I know you are, Seiichi." Ryuu said, he carried them up towards Ermes. He wanted to say goodbye to her too before Jiro came to escort him. He covered them both in kisses. "This one?" He said and tickled Tanjiro's side, making him squirm and squeal, "this one is evil."

"No Daddy!" Seiichi protested adorably. Not that he knew what evil was. Bad, apparently. And his brother was definitely one to get into mischief.

"Oh what have you done now?" Ermes said as she walked out of her room and looked at the three of them. She could hear the protests and shrieks of laughter.

Tanjiro wiggled free of the tickles and ran at his momma. "Mummy!" He yelled happily and jumped on her. He couldn't help it. He just got excited when he saw her.

"I just tickled him and called him evil." Ryuu laughed, it wasn't untrue. He wasn't always bad, and he wasn't even massively terrible, but still. He gave Seiichi more kisses and squished him. "I know you'll be good and keep your brother out of trouble, won't you Seiichi?"

"Yes, Daddy," Seiichi answered. He didn't run off to their mother. But while he was attached to both parents, he was a daddy's boy. His brother was more of a mommy's boy. And that was okay.

"Oh no, you're not evil," Ermes said with a laugh as she picked up her youngest son. "You're going to be a good boy for me while Daddy is gone, aren't you?"

"You are a very good boy, Seiichi." Ryuu said happily, he didn't mind that Tanjiro had run off to his mother, it was nice that they each had a child that was super into each of them, rather than just the one.

"Oh yes, we can do painting?" Tanjiro asked, he would paint them pretty pictures. So many. All over the walls and not the paper, because paper was for babies!

"I was actually thinking that we could do painting," Ermes said, pleased that her son had gotten to the idea before she'd announced it. "I've gotten very special paints and paper for you." Oh yeah. Smart mommy knew what to use. She knew how her youngest would be.

"Painting!" Seiichi shouted, excited. He was always very good and didn't get any on the walls or floor. He stayed on the paper and made pretty colors and shapes.

"Are they super duper colourful?" Tanjiro asked curiously, he liked those. He didn't realise his mummy was a clever sausage and had figured him out already. He put his hands on her cheeks and squished her face together with a giggle. "Like our hair?"

"Will you make daddy a very special picture for when I return, Seiichi?" Ryuu said, heading towards the play room for the children. It had different area's in it, art section, learning corner and such the like. It was a really big awesome room.

Ermes turned her head and kissed both of her son's hands. "They are," she said and brought him into the playroom as well. She set him down. "Go say goodbye to your father while I set it up for you." She was very clever. She got out the special paper and put it on the easels, toddler size but adjustable for when they grew, and got the special paints.

"I will," Seiichi said with a serious nod. He didn't speak as much as his brother did. Not yet. He was a little slower in learning his words and couldn't do more than a few word phrases at that point. But he would catch up.

"Okay mummy," Tanjiro said and ran over to his father and was picked up with his brother. He kissed his daddy's cheeks, but cuddled into his twin instead of his dad.

"Again, be good for mummy and I will return soon, okay?" Ryuu said and squished them, even though he still visited Mireya daily, it was so hard for him to leave his boys. "I'll be back as soon as I can be, I promise."

"Pinky promise?" Tanjiro asked and held out his little finger.

"Pinky promise," Ryuu said, but he put both the boys down and knelt so he was on their level and held out both of his little fingers for them.

Seiichi took the pinkie promise. He giggled for doing it. But then he ran over to his easel. The boys didn't know where their daddy was going but he went out with Uncle Jiro sometimes. He couldn't questioned on this as they wouldn't understand anyways.

Ermes smiled as she watched the boys with their father. It always made her smile and filled her with such happiness. Their lives had changed so much with the coming of the little ones. And there was another on the way. She rested her hand on her stomach, feeling the little kicks against her palm. But then she heard the knocker on the door. "Your ride is here," she said to Ryuu and kissed his cheek.

Tanjiro did the same and then followed his twin. He looked over the things their mum had set out for them, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to figure it out. Why were they special?

Ryuu went over to his love and put a hand on her stomach with hers, as he leaned in and kissed her softly. "So it is," he agreed with a smile. "I will be back as soon as I can, if they're too bad for you, call me and I'll return faster."

"How many years did I handle you?" Ermes said. "I think I can handle them for an afternoon. You go do what you need to do." She smiled at him sweetly.

Seiichi looked at the paints and paper. The paper looked like any old paper but shinier. He liked that it was shiny and touched it. But then he looked at the paint. It was just one color. "One?" he asked his mother curiously. How could he do a painting with just one color. He touched it, curious, but nothing showed up on his hands. It was invisible!

"It's special paint, little one," Ermes said. "Put it on the paper and it turns all sorts of colors."

Ryuu smiled as he watched them, but he slipped out to answer the door for Jiro. He didn't want to leave him waiting and the boys would be happy with their mother and if they noticed him actually leave, they could throw tantrums. "Hello, Jiro." he said with a smile as he answered the door.

Tanjiro watched, but then tipped some on his hands and then the wall. Just to test it. "Mama!" He said surprised, because nothing. Nada. He was so shocked. She had...defeated him.

"Hello," Jiro answered. "Ready to go?" The absol wasn't swarmed by children grabbing his fur so they must be distracted by their mother. He was only a little disappointed. But for the importance of the day and what it marked, well, kids were best not involved.

"Yes?" Ermes asked innocently. The shock on his face made her want to laugh aloud. It was really, really hard not to just go for it and laugh her ass off. But that wouldn't do. It would just encourage him.

"Yes, I am ready." Ryuu said, he stepped outside with the kitty, shut the door and used the key on it. "I am surprised you are a cat today, did you want the children to love on you? We can arrange that, when we return?" He offered as he stepped through into the hall of souls.

"It's broken!" Tanjiro said, he was suddenly incredibly upset. His little face crumpled and he burst into tears, his hands slapping against his forehead as he crouched on the floor. Nope. He was not happy with the silly paint at all. Ha.

"No," Jiro said as he walked through with Ryuu. "Not that I'd be opposed. But I'm to be spending time as only a human soon and I'd like to spend more time in my true form before that happens." He wouldn't be able to miss it but he thought that, if he could, he would. So this was how he was going to appear whenever he had the chance. "Are you ready for this?"

"It's not," Ermes said and went over to her son. "This paint is special because it's meant to be a surprise. No, it won't paint on anything but the paper. But what's on the paper is a secret and only you can reveal it with this special paint. Do you see?"