This story was inspired by a short story in Great American Stories, From Hawthorne to Hemingway. I did not, I repeat DID NOT, copy the story. After I finished reading it, I imagined the little girl being Rin. So I decided to make this short fan fiction about it. I don't own Inu-Yasha or the story, A White Heron.

The Heron

Waves crashed gently on the shore, pushing and pulling, small grains of sand. The moon gleamed brightly in the sky, its reflection cast on the shimmering waters surface, along with the endless amount of stars. A brisk wind blew, shifting the tall grass, which divided the beach from the mainland, from erect to askew. The trees' branches cried in the hollow wind, singing songs of sorrow as the green leaves departed from the thick, massive branches. A fire was lit in the depths of the forest, lighting up a radius of about five feet. Shadows danced on the tall trunks of the trees, as the fire flickered under the white moon. A tall girl stood upright near the fire, her shadow followed her example. She placed her hands somewhat above the fire. Her features then, became distinct; her tawny eyes stared directly into the dancing flames. A smaller, but wiser, object sat across from her, closing his eyes. He green limbs embraced a staff, which had a man's head and a woman's head on the top. He opened his big, round, yellow eyes and stared at the child.

"Rin, what in the world are you doing?" He said with uncertainty in his voice. She looked at him; her eyes reflected the fire's bright orange glow. She placed her hands to her side and smiled.

"I'm trying to warm myself up," she paused for a moment, and then continued, "You should try it to, Jaken!" The old toad stared at her blankly, and then he opened him big mouth and let out a hearty laugh.

"Ho, human child, I don't need a fire's flames to keep me warm. I am quite warm as it is!" She stared at him, and then looked at his small arms, which shivered, but only slightly. She then let out a sigh and slowly bent her legs and sat down on the ground. She twirled her tiny finger around a stem of a morning glory and snapped it from the bottom, near its roots. She brought it up to eye level and held it to the light and saw that it truly was a morning glory. A small grin was placed on her face then she twirled it between her thumb and index finger.

Twigs snapped from deep in the forest, its echo penetrated the night's stillness. The snapping came closer and Jaken and Rin's eye grew in worry and then Jaken stood up abruptly. A tall figure appeared in the midst of the deep forest. Rin squinted her eyes as the figures came closer and became clearer.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin said as she stood up, then she ran towards him. Sesshomaru looked at her as she reached him with open arms, and then collapsed upon him. He placed his hand on her back and then grabbed the cloth of her kimono and plopped her down next to him. "Any luck, lord Sesshomaru?"

He shook his head, "No" he said solemnly. Jaken raced after Rin and then looked up at his lord.

"Lord Sesshomaru," he said then bowed, "Did you find the heron?" Sesshomaru shook his head again, his long white hair swayed back and forth. Rin grabbed Sesshomaru's hand and placed the morning glory in it. He looked down at her and then brought his hand up and opened it.

"A flower?"

"Uh-hu, I picked it just for you."

He stared at the flower then turned away. Rin sighed then trotted back to the campsite. Sesshomaru stayed behind and talked to Jaken. Rin laid down ion the floor curled up in a small human ball near the roaring fire and stared at Sesshomaru and Jaken. Their lips moved, but their words were silent. She frowned and then closed her eyes.

"Come, Jaken," he said and walked towards the fire. Jaken sat down on the opposite side of Rin. Sesshomaru walked towards Rin and placed her on his fluffy and then wrapped his arm around her. A small smile was painted on Rin's face as she slept under the abundant stars.

(Please, I encourage you to tell me what you think.)