Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Hello, I would just like to thank everyone who is taking the time to read this story. I thought it would be interesting if people could see what Kenshin's parents lives were like...I don't know what they were like, but hey, I'm trying!

:Japanese Words:
(If anyone sees any mistakes with these words please tell me, I don't want to offend anyone)

ketsunoana- ass
ahou- fool
mugen- fantasy
hai- yes
fuki- free
otome- maiden/ young lady

Monastery of Dreams
A Man Named Himura Kiyoshi

Voices mingled with the waves crashing against the docks, spraying water onto Hanako's back unmercifully, but it really did not matter for she was already soaked. Hanako looked up at the ugly stage where the two brothers stood with one woman she had been walking with for three days. They were trying to sell her for the highest price. Hanako gazed into the woman's brown orbs, seeing her own misery reflected in the other's. She turned away not wanting to picture the girl. She was somewhat pretty, but her torn, plain kimono having been worn one too many times took whatever beauty she had left and made it hideous. Only her eyes stood out, she was like herself a year ago; a beginner.

Three days before, Hanako took her aside prior to the journey and told her what the elder woman said to her. In the end, it never really helped, it never would. Hope was for fools, and those who wished to comfort themselves from the truth were even more ignorant. This was a fact Hanako had always known, no one ever had to tell her that. The fact was but common knowledge to the smart...not that she was intelligent in anyway, only observant.

Again voices all around broke her reserve. Men, women, children, and traders stood surrounding the stage looking at the girl, laughing, pointing, and bidding. Soon it would be her turn, but it was not now, for instead of standing on the stage herself and two others sat on the edge of the dock's sick wood watching and waiting until their own turns. Who would buy them this time?

Months ago she stopped caring...what good would it do except bring more bitterness into life's grand nectar. Playing with the fringes of her brown kimono, Hanako remembered the warm violet eyes for a minute. Those orbs had been filled with compassion and kindness. Heiko always said that you could judge a person by the light in their eyes. If she had been right then the man she saw earlier had been practically a god. However, Hanako knew to think that was foolishness, no man whomever he was could be a god. That right was reserved for the emperor only.

A voice suddenly rang out a number, and Ma-re called out, "Sold."

It was done, and Hanako did not dare to see the girl, nor did she hear the girl. The girl woman knew better, it would have been a hopeless cause, and she would have dishonored herself more so then she already was. It was then the other brother, the one who killed Heiko, looked straight into Hanako's eyes and sinisterly smirked.

Hanako held her head on high, making sure that no emotion came out, making sure that she did not utter a word, but giving herself to an occurrence that would happen for the rest of her life, no matter how sour it was to her taste. The brother started over to her, but before he could reach her something, or she should say someone grabbed her arm tenderly and pulled her up.

Distressed, Hanako let herself make a small noise, and turned herself around only to come face to face with godly eyes...violet eyes, the same ones as before. She blinked as he smiled down at her, but said nothing. What would the brothers do?

"Let go of my property, ketsunoana." The malice in the brother's voice dripped out like venom, and for a moment it burned her ears just to hear it. Her back was facing the brother, thanks to the man, but she could see the shocked face of the other two remaining women as they looked on. Around her people seemed not to pay attention as their eyes were caught by other slaves being sold on different parts of the docks. It was a regular episode.

"Ma-re, get over here." Then again once he got the brother's attention he turned toward the man who held her gently. "There are laws against this, ketsunoana." Voice still with malice. Hanako felt the man's arm fold around her waist as if he were trying to protect her. Hanako did not like it and so she tried to move, but found that she could not. Even though the violet man's grip was gentle, it was powerful and full of force.

"Let this woman go." Again Hanako heard that hard, masculine voice, and quietly she looked up at him. He was tall so she only came about to his chest, but nevertheless, she could see the rage in his eyes, and feel the way his muscles were tense and relaxed at the same time. The man almost gave the appearance that he was ready to fight if need be.

She heard a different laugh; Ma-re. She closed her eyes, wishing that she could just disappear, hoping that the man would just go away so she could be sold again to avoid this conflict. Did he not know what he was doing? What type of ahou was he?

"I don't think I will." She could almost picture Ma-re's arrogant, akimbo stance, she could almost feel his hard gaze on her back, and she could almost feel his hatred. He laughed again. "So hand my property back to me now."

Suddenly, the man who held her released his grip and gave Hanako a chaste smile as he put her behind himself. "How much does she cost?" He gave a quick glance to the others and for an instance resentment and indignation flash in his eyes.

Ma-re abruptly stopped laughing, and looked at him. "More than you can afford."

"You don't even know who I'am." The man suddenly had an arrogant tone in his voice, but he smiled. "How much?"

The brothers gave him a price, and Hanako swore that she saw the man's shoulders relax to a sag. "Deal."

Hanako could not believe what was happening...the man was strange, but she had been right, he was like all the others. She would forever remain a slave. She went and stood beside the others who had no smiles on like herself, but were rigid and stiff. New masters were always the worst because of the fact that they had to get use to them again, and until that time there would be many pains.

Hanako smiled bitterly at the woman next to her, "A person once told me you could tell what a person is like just by the eyes." It was quite for a moment as they watched the exchange between the brothers and the handsome man.

"What do you think, Hanako?" The woman looked towards her with solidity in her black eyes. They were sister in that they were both sold, always sold. They were apart of a horrid sisterhood; sold like animals, and treated even worst.

Hanako turned away, "I believe it is a mugen."

The other nodded, but did not speak for a mutual understanding fell between the two. It was a connection that you can receive with just a glance, almost like you have known the other's mind; that you have a similarity with them. When you have the feeling it almost like a bond was formed for that soul purpose, and there is no need for words.

"Let's go, if you will." The man appeared in front of them and held out his hand.

Hanako stared at it and followed its path unsure of what to expect, but swallowed and walked. She never said goodbye to any of the women, but she knew already of their paths. If she had been someone different Hanako would have prayed for them, but she was not that other person, and besides, nothing would have come from it. Nothing. She had prayed too many times in the past, so much that she had forgotten how to, and no longer cared. Prayer no longer worked for her.

Someone was at her ear, "Stay close to me." Hanako did not need to turn to see who it was, for the voice belonged to the violet eyed man. Yet Hanako knew she had to answer, it was only proper for those in her station. What was his name?

"Hai,master."

Without warning, Hanako did not know she did something wrong, he grabbed her arm and turned her around so that she was facing him. His eyes looked pleadingly at hers, angrily, but all he did was close his eyes and breathe.

"Please, don't call me that."

Hanako frowned, "What do you wish for me to call you?" Her voice held nothing, it was distant and if anything a little nervous.

"You're free." His tone was somewhat disgusted. "I bought you," He shook his head, black hair floating across his forehead.

"I bought you so that you may be free."

Hanako stared for a moment dumbstruck, saying nothing. Free was not a word that she was allowed to use. He bought her; she belonged to him did she not? Hanako looked in his violet eyes and for the first time felt terror consume her heart. This was the worst thing he possibly could have done for her.

"Free, I do not understand." He held Hanako's hand gently and pulled her down the road making sure that no one would harm her, and seeing that she was not going to hit anyone. He said nothing, but Hanako felt a certain anger around him. He was tense, his back muscles flexed and straight, but his stride was calmed and controlled. He carried himself like those of the upper sects, he walked like a samurai.

Nevertheless, the word 'free'-fuki-rang through her ears as she was escorted around the streets, buildings rising up around her; tall and looming. Her future seemed bleak, she had no where to go, no way to support herself. Bitterness rose like bile in her throat, and she stopped herself, yanking her hand away from the man.

Hanako saw him turn confused, while she herself was shocked. She had been able to pull herself from his grip...he must have not be holding her very tightly...Yet, she did not think about that for long. Anger clouded her vision.

"Otome..." The irony of the name made her want to cry. Was he jesting?

"Why are you doing this, don't you know what you have done?" Her voice cracked a little, her emotions that she had held for so long were coming out in anger and frustration.

She had nothing; she was free and had nothing. What good was freedom when you would just die? That was the path she was traveling now. Did he think himself as such a noble heart for freeing her from bondage when in fact he set her up for another, crueler fate. A life of a pitiable, homeless no one. It would be more dishonorable than her servitude.

She saw him observe her with those violet eyes that held so much understanding that she turned away from him. "Why, why did you free me?" Her voice shook.

"Otome-"

"Please don't call me that, are you that cruel as to call me that?" His eyes narrowed, and he grabbed her arm pulling her towards him, glaring into her eyes. He was searching, inspecting, so she bent her gaze downward. She did not like his observant eyes, they were prying eyes that read deep into her soul; he did not need to know what was there. Hanako did not like it.

"What do you mean?" His tone was harsh, but soothing. "What do you mean?" He repeated.

"Answer me." A command. Hanako regarded him, letting her shoulders sag. She looked around her noticing for the first time that they were in a building; a small one, but it was homely, sparsely decorated, only with the essentials, but comfortable. Hanako's breath quickened...was he going to take advantage of her.

The man's eyes softened and he let go, "Please, do not be afraid, I will not do anything inappropriate, but please answer my question."

Hanako did not answer as she back up towards the wall nearest the door. For a moment, she could not speak. How had he known she was thinking that? It was those eyes of his, he was looking at her with such compassion and kindness and understanding. Did this man understand everything? She shook her head, slowly opening her mouth to speak.

"You think you have freed me when in reality you have done nothing but put me into a life style that I have never been in, another form of slavery. I do not know how to survive; I do not have anything to lean on." Hanako did not even bother to hide the fear in her voice. Oh, how she wished she would have been sold to anyone other than this nameless man. How she wished that she could have a master that was cruel, she could have handled that...anything but this.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at the girl before him. Her face was smudged with dirt, her arms and legs were probably in the same condition, her kimono was almost shredded and her wrist and feet were bloody. Her hair...he did not see her hair for it was covered with cloth, but her eyes were the color of fair trees, light honey colored and beautiful. That was what captured his attention when he first laid eyes on her; she was looking at him with something akin to wonder, like she thought him unreal.

When he had seen her for some reason his breath had been taken away. Amon had been there at the time, and tried to stop him from following for they had things to do, but something about the girl compelled him to follow. Maybe it was the injustice of slavery, maybe it was they way she looked at him; it was like she was unknowingly calling out for help. It only took that much to send him after her. She was so young, no more than the age of sixteen; he felt he had to aid the girl.

And now she was accusing him, rather fiercely, that he ruined her. Did she think he was just going to drop her, to leave her? He was not that cruel, and he could not believe she said that to him, to him. No...He sighed, closing his eyes, and inwardly criticizing himself for his arrogance; it was a sin that he had to rid himself of. He no longer wanted it.

With as much placidness as he could gather he said, "I would not leave you unless you want me to."

He watched as her eyes slowly open, and for some reason he wanted to smile, he wanted to hold her and tell her that everything would be fine; that he would care for her if need be. She looked like such a child, fearful, and lost with those honey eyes. She held the cloth on her hair like a shield. He cocked his head, what was she hiding?

"Excuse-me?"

He smiled warmly, "What is your name?" He asked walking slowly towards her, holding out his hand in invitation. He had to take it slow; she was like a wild animal; untrusting of humans, beaten all her life. Yes, he knew, all one had to do was look in her eyes to see the haunted expressions. Anger welled within him, and for a moment he wanted to hurt the people who hurt this girl.

Hanako looked at his hand like it was something disgusting, but she raised her eyes to him, ridding herself of all fear. Whatever will happen, she told herself, I will not show anymore fear.

"Hanako, my name is Matsuoka Hanako."

He smiled coming closer to her. Hanako felt no evil will come from him so she made no movement, instead she quietly watched as he kneeled before her holding out his hand still. What was he trying to prove? For a moment, Hanako felt a desire to reach for him, to touch him. She wanted him to hold her like when he first took her from the brothers. The feeling was so alien to her it frightened Hanako, so in response she backed further against the wall.

She watched his eyed cloud over, but he shook his head and stood up. "I wish you would not be frightened of my, Hanako-dono." Still she was silent. There was nothing to say to him, but yet he still had to tell her one thing-

"What's you name, sir?"

She saw him suddenly smile child like, making him ever more handsome. Tacking the sword from his belt she saw him move to the other wall and place the metal object gingerly down, and turned back to her, his violet eyes trained at her warmly.

"My name is Himura Kiyoshi."

A/N: Hello again minna-san, I know this chapter is not great and I'm sorry for that, but I'm planning on making later chapter better.

If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. ALSO! I know my grammar is horrible so would anyone like to be a Beta-Reader for this story? Please, I really do need one, because in this little paragraph alone I have like twenty billion mistakes!

Important: In the last chapter, ever did get that Hanako's sister did die right...that Heiko was the same Heiko as her sister, right? Also, I put Ma-re-kun...yeah I messed up on that, it was supposed to be something else not -kun.

I would like to thank all the people who reviewed, and let them know that your reviews really inspire me to write. Please continue, and tell me what you think of this chapter. What did you like or dislike? What I can improve on, and so on and so forth. I would like to become a better writer for your sake and my sake.

:Thank You:

whitehaizea- Thank you for the compliment, but I got the idea for parents from another story I read on Ella Enchanted category. Some author I like wrote about a character's parents and that got me started on thinking about Kenshin's, though the idea is mine, I did not copy the story from anyone, but still thank you so much for reviewing. I hope I did not ruin my story with this chapter.

WhiteRabbit5- You really were thinking the mom had the hair. I don't know I wanted the dad to, but then I was like no, mom would make more sense or something. I'm picturing the mom to look some what like Kenshin; only more girlish...I don't know I can't explain it. Also I wanted the eyes to come from Kenshin's dad so they could reflect the same strong morals. So how do you like the characters so far? I really do not hope I ruined my story with this chapter. Could you really image it as an OVA...wow that must be the best compliment I have ever received, and I hope this chapter, again, did not ruin your vision. I found it really hard to write. And you did get that Hanako's sister, Heiko, died right...it just was not some other Heiko, right? Well thanks for reviewing I hope you review more. I love long reviews, thanks!

Katie- Yes, I know my grammar errors are horrible, especially in this chapter, but I'm panning on getting a Beta-Reader soon. I thank you for liking this idea and please keep on reviewing; it would mean so much to me.

Sakura's Shadows- When I first read your review I thought you said that you had read a story like this, lol. I was going to say, "Where?" lol. Well I'm really glad you seem to enjoy the first chapter, I really do think I mutilated this one, and if you think so I'm sorry! But I hope you do continue to read and review, and thank you so much.

Owarinari- Okay if you would not mind e-mailing me at or I would love to send the stories to you. Also you could instant message me at cowgurlevee on aol, if you have it. Okay, but that you for reviewing!

Well I have to go now, but I will write again soon. So until the next time, Have Fun Wherever You Are!

Weather it's now or later, the kid inside will always return.

S.J. Kidd