As promised, fisherman!Eriol and rivernymph!Tomoyo. Many thanks to all who reviewed!
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005. River
Eriol whistled a little tune as he settled on his usual perch by the river. After casting his nets, he set about attaching bait to his fishing line before he cast it out into the river. Sighing as he watched his line bob on the river surface, he hoped that he went home with more than one fish today. He was hoping to sell any extra in the market today so he could afford to buy some fabric, his sister, Nakuru needed to fix up her dress.
Suddenly, he felt a tugging on his line and delightedly, he started winding it back. It was the first time in a long while he managed a catch within the hour. The fish on the hook was probably a big one too, judging by the fight it was putting up. Eriol stood and moved a few paces back, attempting to lift the fish out of the water, but it continued to struggle and in his haste to ensure the fish didn't get away, Eriol tripped over a rock and flew backwards, his rod flying out of his hands.
Cursing himself for his clumsiness, he looked around for his rod and found it lying a few feet away on the river bank, and the fish was still struggling on the hook! Except now it was on land and could only manage to flap around. Quickly, Eriol stood and gently unhooked the fish from the line, depositing it quickly into his carrier for live catch. Fresh fish always fetched a better price in the market after all. Bending down to inspect the fish presently swimming around in frantic circles in the container, Eriol realised with a start, that it was a curious pale gold. He had never come across a fish like that before. Eriol half wondered if the fish was poisonous, or sick perhaps.
Then at the corner of his eye, he noticed a rippling on the surface of the river. Thinking it was another big fish swimming near the surface, Eriol readied his rod again and quickly moved to cast his line. Except, when he looked towards the river again, the ripples on the river had been replaced by a head, which belonged to a beautiful girl who was emerging from the water.
Eriol was quite sure his jaw was open in the most unattractive fashion but he could not seem to close it. This must be a river nymph! Many legends have been told about this river being home to river nymphs who seduced men with their haunting voices into the deep end of the river. Those men were never to be seen again.
Gulping nervously, Eriol tried to move away, hoping to escape undetected. He lifted the container containing the fish carefully and was about to turn around to flee the scene when the fish gave a particular violent thrash. That succeeded in attracting the attention of the river nymph.
She turned towards Eriol and in the most angelic voice said, "You can't have that!"
Eriol was puzzled for a second, then realised the river nymph was pointing at his container, "You mean the fish?"
The river nymph nodded, her black hair flowing around her, "Yes, Kero. He belongs to my friend." She took another step towards Eriol.
Eriol retreated hurriedly, eyes wide with fear, "Are you going to drown me?"
The river nymph stopped in her tracks, "What? Why would I do that?" Her eyes betraying her confusion.
"Don't river nymphs try to seduce men and then drown them in the river?" Eriol questioned, taking a little step forward, sensing this particular river nymph did not seem bent on seduction.
The river nymph wrinkled her nose in response, "Ew, no! Who told you that?"
Eriol shrugged, "Syaoran."
"Syaoran is stupid." The river nymph declared. "I just want to get Kero back."
Eriol noticed the river nymph was out of the river now, although she did not stray far from the river banks. "Oh okay then, I didn't realise this fish belonged to someone else." Saying so, he made his way cautiously over to the river nymph and handed over the container with Kero inside.
"Oh thank you human!" The river nymph smiled, "I was going to offer you something in return for Kero, but since you so willingly gave him back, I am going to give you two somethings instead!"
"Two somethings?" Eriol stupidly repeated.
"Yes!" The river nymph said, looking around. "Now, what could I possibly offer you in return..." she mumbled to herself. Noticing the nets that Eriol had cast, she clapped her hands, "Oh I know! I shall make sure that your fishing nets would always be filled with fish every day of your life!"
"You can do that?" Eriol asked, not daring to believe his luck.
"Of course," Seeing Eriol had no objection to her plan, the river nymph waved her arm and immediately, Eriol's nets were filled with splashing fish.
Eriol gaped, that was probably more fish he had caught in his entire life!
"Thank you!" Eriol exclaimed, turning his wide eyes to the beautiful river nymph.
She beamed back at him, obviously pleased with his reaction. "You're welcome human! Now for that second thing..." She looked around again, hoping to see something else she might help Eriol with.
"Oh that's quite alright. I am perfectly content now!" Eriol replied, his gaze fixed on the splashing nets of fish.
The river nymph laughed, "Never have I encountered a human who would refuse me! Well then, perhaps..." the river nymph gestured for Eriol to come closer.
Eriol inched a little closer to the river nymph, taking note of her fair skin and strange purple eyes.
"Perhaps," the river nymph continued, twirling a hair around her finger, "a kiss?" And without waiting for a response from Eriol, she tip toed and pressed a chaste kiss against his lips.
Shocked, Eriol could not move away, and he realised belatedly that the river nymph had meant to seduce him after all! And he had foolishly ventured near enough to the water's edge where she would surely drown him. But then, the river nymph pulled away, ducking her head to hide her blush. Eriol looked down and saw that his feet was still very much firmly on dry land.
The river nymph released Kero from his container and with one last wave and shy smile, disappeared into the river.
"Oh," Eriol said, lifting a finger on his lips, "Wait."
But she was already gone.
Looking out to the spot where she had disappeared, Eriol found himself taking a step into the river. "Wait," he called out, wading a little deeper, "I didn't get your name!"
"Eriol!"
Eriol turned to the voice and saw Syaoran, his friend, waving at him from the river banks, "Get out of there you idiot! The current there is strong, you'll get pulled under if you're not careful!"
Eriol realised suddenly that he was up to his waist in water, funny, he swore he was only a few steps from the river bank a while ago.
"It looks like you got lucky today!" Syaoran exclaimed, gesturing to the nets, although he continued to look worried at Eriol's present position in the water, "I heard the fish splashing in your nets all the way upstream!"
Eriol nodded absent-mindedly, eyes still trained on the spot that river nymph had disappeared from. If he concentrated hard enough, he thought he could hear her whisper his name in that melodious voice of hers. Eriol... Eriol... The water around him seemed to echo with his name.
Perhaps, one day, he might see her again.
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I guess this one could have turned out a little darker, but today Tomoyo is in no mood to seduce anyone so Eriol shall stay a fisherman a while longer. If you enjoyed it, a review would be very nice!
