6. Ice
"If Captain Hitsugaya and Rukia can both make ice and snow with their swords, why can't they put a stop to this heat wave?" Yuzu asked as she fanned herself with the paperwork she had volunteered to help Hisagi with that morning. It was now mid-afternoon and they'd given up, knowing they'd only succeed in smudging all the ink with their sweat if they continued. They sat by the open windows of Hisagi's office, hoping to catch a cool breeze. "I don't know. Maybe they're secretly sadists who like watching the rest of us melt while they sip hot chocolate." Hisagi replied grimly. "Selfish grim reaper snowmen." Yuzu grumbled petulantly. Hisagi hid his face in the pillow of his sweaty arms to smother his laughter.
7. Flower
It turned out the Shiba home was not a good place to keep a garden. "This is the third one to catch on fire." Yuzu lamented as she scavenged the ashes for surviving flowers and vegetables. Hisagi and Ganju were helping her. Hisagi because he'd come to consider Yuzu a friend in the last four years, and Ganju it was his fireworks that caused the destruction of Yuzu's garden.
"I'm sorry, Yuzu. I really did try and avoid making your flowers casualties of my experiment." Ganju apologized for the twelfth time. Yuzu sighed dismally and shook her head. "It's okay. Maybe I should just give up." She said. Hisagi couldn't bear to see such a usually bright and cheerful girl so crestfallen. "Or maybe you could, well actually you can keep your garden at the Squad Nine barracks, if you want." He suggested. Yuzu and Ganju looked at him with surprise. "Do you mean that, Hisagi?" Yuzu asked hopefully. Hisagi nodded and Yuzu let out a squeal, throwing herself at Hisagi to embrace him.
8. School
When Yuzu came to the Soul Society, she declined to join Shin'o Academy, so her father employed a tutor for her, to insure her education wouldn't end with human middle school. Six years later, Isshin politely sent the tutor away, as his services were no longer acquired. Yuzu had learned all she could from him.
The following day, Yuzu came to Hisagi's office to mope on his couch. "If I had stayed in the world of the living, I would be attending university now. Do you have anything like that here in the Soul Society, Hisagi?" She asked him after a half hour of silent sulking. "There's Shin'o Academy for soul reapers. And I suppose there's a few schools for nobles out there to become lawyers, judges, clerks, and such." Hisagi answered her absently as he worked.
Yuzu was quiet for a long time, which put Hisagi a bit on edge. "Would I make a good soul reaper, you think, Hisagi?" She asked at last. Hisagi looked up then and leveled Yuzu with a stern look. "Yuzu, don't become a soul reaper just for something to do now that you don't have your studies to occupy you." He chided her. Yuzu blushed shamefacedly and nodded. "You're right, Hisagi, I just...What am I supposed to do now? Ichigo's married. Karin's going to graduate soon and live with her squad most of the time. My dad spends most of his time with his squad nowadays too. And the Shiba's are family, I know, but I...My studies were a welcome distraction but now that distraction is gone. What do I do now, Hisagi?"
From Hisagi's point of view, the answer was simple: "Anything you want, Yuzu."
9. Light
As they neared the end of the senkaimon, Yuzu's heart rate began to pick up. This would be her first time back in the human world in over fifteen years. She wondered how the world had changed, what had become of Karakura Town and all her old friends. She fidgeted with the end of her skirt, wondering if her clothes would be out of style or weird.
What if there are hover-boards and flying cars now?! Yuzu thought in a fit of panic. The thought nearly made her faint. This must be what time traveling would feel like, she thought nervously. Unexpectedly, Hisagi took her hand and she looked at him with confusion. Even in the dark, Yuzu could see Hisagi's red cheeks. "Sometimes the senkaimon opens up in high places. If it does, just hang on to me and I'll get us to the ground all right." He warned her.
Just as Yuzu was about to reply, light flooded into the senkaimon. Turning away from Hisagi, Yuzu was greeted by the bright blue sky of the human world. She smiled so hard it hurt her cheeks.
10. Candy
"Happy birthday, Yuzu." Hisagi said, handing the girl her gift. She unwrapped the tiny package with a wide smile and let out a delighted squeal at the sight of the contents. "Candies from the World of the living!" She cheered. "When did you have time to get these?" She asked.
"While you were fiddling with your bike, I stopped by a sweet shop near the school." Hisagi explained. "Your mouth was all but watering when he walked past it, so..." He trailed off sheepishly. Yuzu turned bright red and gave Hisagi a respectful bow. "Thank you so very much, Hisagi!"