Giuyy X Shinobu ~oneshots~ requests (OPEN)

mermaid Shinobu X fisherman Giyuu (3k words)

I'm trying Something a little different today. This is inspired by the "Annabell lee" poem by Edgar Allan Poe so is this technically a poem fic? Is that even a thing?? If not I guess I'm making it a thing.
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Raucous laughter sounded throughout the town by the sea. A group of young children laughed and played, chasing a ball around town. The play got closer and closer to the shore, and as the town sat on a hill overlooking the sea, the ball rolled down towards the bay.

A child screamed and ran after the ball, their friends following suit.

This ball rolled down to an old fishing shack.

The children saw the old fisherman sitting on his porch swing, staring out in to the horizon. He did that a lot.

-Hey! Catch the ball!" A child screamed. The old man turned to look at the group of children chasing the ball. He sighed and got up using his cane as leverage.

He caught the ball when it rolled down to his feet on the sand.

The children were not far behind, and they thanked the man for catching their toy.

-Thank you Tomioka-san." The Oldest of the children, a brown haired boy bowed respectfully. Giyuu nodded, not really paying attention. He seemed even more out of it than usual today. It was as if he was waiting for someone.

-What's wrong, gramps?" Inosuke asked. Giyuu looked at the kids from the corner of his eye and contemplated answering.

-tis' the anniversary of her death." He said simply. Tanjiro was the first to pipe up.

-Who's death?" Giyuu looked at the boy, hesitating on his answer, but he sighed.

-I'll tell you."

"It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

It was a day of great excitement. The youngest Tomioka was beaming with pride, as his father stomped down the stairs in the small house they called home.

The best fisherman, that was what the child had always aspired to be. He wanted to make his father proud. At just 9 years old, Giyuu already knew how to pick a bait, handle a fishing rod, how to clean a fish and how to wait patiently for a catch.

-Father, let me go with you on the sea, Please?" He clung to his father's sleeve, but the man just shooed him away with a tired look.

-No, you're still far too young." He said. Giyuu stuck his bottom lip out in a pout.

-But.. but you always go! I want to help too!" He protested. His father sighed and reached his hand to ruffle the child's hair.

-No, Giyuu. You can come when you're older, just wait patiently." He said sternly. Giyuu wanted to protest but he figured it wouldn't do any good.

-Fine..." He crossed his arms over his chest. His father said goodbye to the family and walked out of the house, promising to return with fish to feed the whole village. Giyuu's mother crouched down to his level.

-Don't be sad. How about you fish by the rocks?" She suggested. Giyuu didn't want to fish by the rocks where only little fish would catch the bait, but he figured it was better than doing nothing.