Author's Note:

I apologize for the delay. Well, I'd like to thank those for reading and faving/following this collection. It's very much appreciated and I'm glad that you all seem to enjoy reading this.

Character: Hamuko

Setting: After Hamuko is released from the hospital after being asleep.

Summary: Hamuko contemplates while looking at a picture.

Disclaimer: Persona 3 and its characters belong to Atlus.

Enjoy!

Memories light the corner of my mind.

Misty water color memories

Of the way we were.

- Barbra Streisand

The Way We Were

Hamuko was currently lying on her bed, listening to music on her mp3. Her red-brown eyes focused on the dull, white ceiling of her room, thinking.

She was barely released today from the hospital, having been kept there for awhile despite being up for some time. For which she was glad as she utterly hated hospitals. The sterile, chemical smell was what she hated the most. That and hospital food. Blegh…

And then there was also…

Her eyes dimmed as her thoughts shifted down a darker train of thought. Her lips turned down in a frown.

The accident.

Or, more specifically the day after the accident.

-VII-

Hamuko remembered when her and her brother woke up.

They had no idea where they were and why they were all bandaged up. It was frightening. Frightening to be alone and in a strange place. She remembered next how her brother softly asked where they were and where their parents were. However, only silence greeted them as they were the only ones in this strange, white room. It wasn't until later on when a nurse had come in and checked on them that another person was present.

When this happened, Minato once more asked the question of where their parents were. Hamuko still remembered that pitying gaze that the nurse gave as she excused herself to bring the doctor in. Still leaving the question unanswered. A few seconds passed before the same nurse returned with the doctor. The man introduced himself to the two of them before explaining the situation.

The doctor told them that they had been involved in a car accident where the both of them received wounds. The wounds were not too deep, which the doctor was immensely grateful for, considering the circumstances they could have been worse. He then went onto to say that that was the reason why they were brought here. When he finished explaining, a silent moment passed before for the third time Minato asked where their parents were.

It was then that the doctor became silent. He looked down and bit his lower lip. The nurse looked away.

A dreaded silence came over the room and lingered for what seemed forever before the older man looked back up at the two. His eyes were filled with the same look of pity that the nurse showed before.

Hamuko's heart ached as she mentally replayed those words that started their downward spiral into a life of hardship, isolation, and pain.

The doctor slowly answered that their parents had, unfortunately, passed away.

Tears pricked at the corner of Hamuko's eyes as she next remembered the cries of denial and sadness that followed.

-VIII-

Hamuko shook her head, trying to rid herself of such a painful memory. Her auburn hair swishing back and forth on the bed.

Enough...

The teen got up from her lying down position on the bed and sat straight up. As she got up, Hamuko rubbed the tears from her eyes. She sniffled a bit before calming herself. A few minutes passed before Hamuko was completely calm. Hamuko then turned to the side and with her right hand flicked her mp3 off.

Wordlessly, Hamuko took the headphones out from her ears and placed them next to the shut-off mp3. Next, she got up from the bed and went for the desk drawer. Her hand reached out and pulled the drawer open. Once it was open she went through the items, trying to find the object of her search. It took some time before at last she spotted what she wanted and grabbed it. Hamuko closed the drawer, walking back to the bed.

She sat down and looked at the picture.

"Hey, Mom…Dad," she called out before she softly smiled.

This picture that she held in her hands was the perfect embodiment of the all the joy and happiness that had happened in her life.

In the picture were her parents, herself, and Minato. And in the background, there were trees and grass everywhere - indicating that the photo must have been taken at some park or other.

The man in the picture, their father, had a huge grin on his face. His stormy grey eyes twinkled with happiness. And on his shoulders was perched a younger Hamuko, his arms held her legs to him. The young girl mirrored the same expression of joy on her face just like their father's; meanwhile she also had tangled her hands in his dark, navy-blue hair. However, it looked like the older man did not seem to mind.

Red-brown eyes then looked at the other two figures in the picture.

A long, brown-haired woman was crouched down to the level of a young boy. The woman, their mother, had her arms wrapped around the boy and her face rested on his small shoulder. But, unlike her husband, the woman only wore a smile on her face. Yet, that smile conveyed the same amount of happiness nonetheless. As for the boy, Minato, a cute smile adorned his face.

-IX-

Hamuko felt her thumb absently began to rub alongside the photo's side.

Looking at this picture…it made her feel relaxed. Which was why taking out this picture had become something of a daily ritual. She would take out this picture, look at it, and talk to it. The subjects that she would talk about would range from just small talk to discussing the day's events.

The reason behind this behavior was just simply she wanted to let her feelings out. Yes, she had Minato, but there were some things she simply could not talk with him about. And so, she would imagine that she was having a conversation with her parents. Not caring that really it was more of a one-sided conversation that she was having.

As for others knowing about this unusual behavior, no one knew about it. She never told anyone about this unusual habit, not even Minato. Most likely she would probably be thought as being weird or something. As for her brother...she didn't exactly know why she kept it a secret from him.

Anyways…

"I'm sorry that I haven't said anything in a while," Hamuko began. "It's just that I've been in the hospital. It wasn't for anything serious, so don't worry. Hey, remember Mitsuru-senpai? Yeah, she was the one that was there when I first woke up."

It was true that the first thing that Hamuko had woken up to was the concerned face of her red-headed senpai, Kirijo Mitsuru. Hamuko had been groggy at first and didn't know where she was. It was then that Mitsuru began to explain to her about what had happened: the fight with the Shadow, what happened after, and finally how she got here. After the explanation, Mitsuru sincerely apologized about the situation.

"I thought that it was nice of her, being all concerned about us," Hamuko commented on the senior's behavior. "Honestly, I never would have thought that Senpai was that kind of person. I mean, I know what you and Dad would say about judging others, but it's just that Senpai is just…well…it's hard to tell what kind of person she is or what she's thinking. It's kind of hard to explain."

"But, after that happened, I tried to ask Senpai just what really happened. But all Senpai did was just change the subject. I don't know why, but for a second, Senpai looked...sad."

After she had apologized to her, Mitsuru then had a sad look in her eyes. However, immediately the upperclassman regained her composure and said to Hamuko that she would remain in the hospital for the day. "Just in case," Mitsuru said. Afterwards, she excused herself and left.

And so Hamuko spent yesterday at the hospital before finally leaving today. Again, for which she was glad to do.

"Still, it looks like we're still in the dark. Mitsuru-senpai greeted me when I came back today, but she didn't look like she would want me to ask her questions like yesterday. And also there was this guy with grey hair here today. I've never seen him around before, but I guess he's another resident here. Or at least that's what I think." Hamuko said.

"Yukari-chan was also here too. But, for some reason, she wouldn't look at me."

Most likely the reason was because of what happened to her and Minato. After that Shadow or whatever was defeated by the both of them, the two had passed out immediately afterwards. No doubt Yukari felt responsible, like Mitsuru, for that happening.

Hamuko felt the corners of her mouth turn downward into a frown again.

Minato-nii…

Currently, her brother was still in the hospital, asleep. From what she heard from her senpai, Minato had recovered from the fever that afflicted him from that night, but Minato had not stirred since. Her hands clenched the photo tighter.

Once more Hamuko felt her mind go back to the accident all those years ago. But this time, she focused solely on her brother.

-X-

Prior to the accident, Minato had been a very cute and happy kid. He would smile and laugh a lot. He was also gentle and caring as well. This picture of one of her family's small outings perfectly showed that side of him.

But now…

Minato was a broken, embittered boy. The smiles he gave were a rarity and mostly were just a simple upward turning of the corner of his mouth. A huge contrast to some of the smiles that he gave while as a child. And as for his laughs, instead of being filled with humor or happiness, were often filled with tones of bitterness and sarcasm.

That accident changed him.

And in the years that followed, amidst the constant moving between relatives, he had become filled with anger and hatred as well. While this change frightened her...she still remained by his side. She refused to leave him.

While his personality went for a darker turn, he still possessed the same feelings of gentleness, caring, and understanding from before. Albeit, he hid such feelings from everyone except her.

-XI-

It's not fair...

These words echoed in her mind.

It's not fair that their parents died. It's not fair what happened to her brother. It's not fair that that they had to suffer so much pain. It's not fair…It's not fair…

Hamuko sighed. She knew she couldn't change the past. Even if she truly wanted to, it wasn't possible.

Maybe that's why she didn't want to tell her brother about this because, to her, it would be too painful. It would be painful to see just how much her brother had changed from an innocent, little boy to an embittered, cynical teen.

Hamuko let the picture rest on her lap.

However...Lately, Hamuko began to notice slight changes in her brother's personality. Ever since they moved in with their uncle a couple of years back, she saw how slowly Minato began to open up. Hamuko silently hoped that it would continue.

So while she could never hear her father's gentle words, feel her mother's warm hugs, or see her brother's innocent smile again. At least she had this picture to remember those happy memories and now there was the possibility of creating new memories. Smiling, Hamuko then decided to end the talk early today.

"Mom, Dad," Hamuko said. "Look after Minato-nii, please. As for me, I think I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Bye."

And just as Hamuko was going to get up from her bed, suddenly there was a knock on her door.

A/N:

- I love the song by Barbara Streisand and the movie. Though it has been some time since I've seen it recently.

- I'm working on the next drabble that should be released during sometime this week.

- Anyways, review, fave/follow, or give feedback. Very much appreciated and thanks for reading.