It's almost funny. Not in an amusing sense, I suppose, but still—the way time can seem so fast and so slow at the same time.

But it doesn't work that way, does it? I think the difference must be me.

It's certainly been an interesting three years.

[The sounds of memory kick in abruptly. There's not much sound in the background, save for what might normally be heard in a sleepy rural Japanese town, but the patter of bare feet and angry shouts are obvious.]

"STOP!!! YOU LITTLE COCKROACHES!!!"

[Further threats come from the angry man, threats and bargaining tactics that are quickly undermined by more threats.]

"What'll we do, R----? He has a sickle! He's really gonna kill us!"

"Shut up and run!"

[Both voices belong to young boys, but the second one might be recognizable as Kiba's, for those with a good ear for such things. Suddenly, there's the loud THUMP of a body hitting the ground hard.]

"Who is that?! You know her, R----?!"

"N-no..."

"D-damn it! Who tripped me? Aggh! Bubububu—"

[It's impossible to tell exactly what happens next from sound alone. Unless, of course, one is acquainted with the sound of a young girl dancing on the head of a man who's faceplanted into the dirt.]

"Follow me!"

[This voice is female, authoritative, and a younger-sounding Kazahana.]

"H-hey! Wait a second..."

"Hurry! You want someone to take that water away from you?!"

"Wa...wait!"

"Hey, R----! R----!"

[Sounds like someone decided to follow.]

I'd like to remind everyone that despite the [taps] recent difficulties some of our healers have had, myself included, the Wellspring clinic is more than capable of assisting the sick and injured. We've a number of very talented healers even without powers.

I'd also like to thank whoever suggested my name as a nomination for judgeship, but I'm afraid I had to turn it down. I'm not qualified for such a position. I do encourage everyone to vote when they can; we're all here together, so we should make our wishes known.

Justice, Toushi, I'm going shopping after my shift today, so please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to stock up on in the kitchen.

[ooc: forgot to add that someone can claim the nominated-her slot if they want, otherwise it's an NPC.]

[Written in shakier handwriting than usual, but still recognizable as Kazahana's]

Many of the contraptions in this Disney place are a lot of fun, but I think I should warn everyone that riding them too many times in a row isn't a good idea.

I think I'm going to throw up.

What in the world are these furry things everyone's talking about? KC left one in my shoe, but it isn't [brief pause as she considers what wording to use] intact enough to examine. I threw it off a branch.

It was a sweet gesture, though. He just wanting to bring dinner to his mommy. I gave him extra kibble as a reward.

Therefore this for the second time has happened. You are irritated, how; Because I that am the practice of the uselessness, you propose that it cannot blame the people in everyone to transmit to the journal tries, as for me would like to try.

If anyone can read this, it receives in order to inform that I the people supply of the clinic this week am a little low explore the Wilderness, by the people who have returned with the aggressive injury and am moving. The importance, so you rejoice state, without worrying, it is not, if it possesses the flesh wound and supply handles you yourself, so does with home, we acquire ranking to toriaji.

Toushi, I possessed thought. I write that, or when or you speak, if you read your name cannot hear normally, or, does that happen when of the language difficulty which still we have is thought? Perhaps we may evade that. Your name is strawberry.

( original post )

For those who were worried, I've been released from the Wellspring clinic as a patient, though of course you can still find me there when I'm on duty. That should be tomorrow, since I'm still a little woozy. Those medications were quite potent.

I really appreciate those of you who helped following my double's despicable attacks—Crow, Lezard and Reed especially—but I feel as though I owe everyone an apology all the same. Even if she wasn't me...well. I'm sorry.

As big as the Wilderness-mall was, not every store was packed with shoppers and mobile mannequins. Kazahana was glad for that as she slipped into the furniture section of a department store. It was quiet here, the bustling sounds muffled by curtains, bedcovers, and other such things. Kazahana sat on the end of one of the display beds and looked down at the crystal in her hand.

It was time. For a while, she'd been afraid to learn more about herself, as much as she wanted to be whole. What if she saw something worse than what the unexpected elevator trip had shown her? But she couldn't stay a coward forever. And if she did see something bad, she'd at least be away from Toushi and her other friends. She could deal with it on her own. Closing her eyes, she touched the crystal.

( This is my death )

[Memory taken from Chapter 149, page 17 to Chapter 151, page 4 of Bleach. (Correct link added.) The animated version of the scene can be viewed in this video, which has appropriate mood music to boot.]