A/N – More shorts, rejoice! Pairings are to be determined, depends on how I feel as they go. Also, Hitsugaya will be a constant throughout; other characters will come and go – that's more as a challenge to myself – keeping him involved.

Possible and potential pairings introduced. Some are completely crack, just FYI.

I own nothing, blahblah. Prompts come from SilverEmerald-DAS on DA.

Also – spewing out as many words as I can for NaNoWriMo.

Secret

There were decided benefits to being short and unassuming, and being able to keep his spirit energy docile. He could probably (and legitimately) change the Tenth's specialty to intelligence rival Soi-Fon's, but he didn't relish the extra work. Or the notion of the fiery woman's sword at his neck for impinging on her territory.

Oh, the dirt he had.

Oh, the dirt he had on so many people.

Captain Yamamoto periodically went to see the Fourth (specifically Captain Unohana, nothing but the best for him, of course) about a certain issue he had been having for the last six hundred years. Toshiro had been in for a normal checkup after a visit to the World of the Living, and had overheard from the adjacent examination room. Granted, he didn't want to know exactly whom Yamamoto had been pursuing when he discovered his apparent erectile dysfunction, but it was amusing nonetheless.

Soi-Fon and a certain former Captain of the same division seemed to be very good friends. Urahara had told him that after one late night in his shop, over saucers of sake, bemoaning his failure at enticing Yoruichi into his bed.

Izuru, still acting-Captain of the Third, refused to speak his former Captain's name, and only referred to him as "the previous Captain."

After having a failed relationship with his Lieutenant, Seventh Seat Yamada Hanataro the Fourth had begun spending a good deal of time with Shiba Ganju, of all people. The last he had heard, they were still sharing an apartment in the World of the Living, but that was about it. Hanataro had burned himself out badly after healing so many during and just after the Bount incident that Unohana had asked Ganju privately to keep an eye on her officer. Surprisingly, the man had agreed, and things were progressing.

Momo still pined for her Captain Aizen, and had cut most of her ties to him. That wasn't really a secret though. She was clear in her desire to "rehabilitate" Aizen, or that he was really working for all their welfare. Yeah,right.

From the Sixth, he knew that Rikichi had accidentally "lost" an entire flock of Hell Butterflies. Renji had laughed uncontrollably as his Captain had found them all roosting in the supply closet in the barracks. The slight jar of the door opening had sent the dozens of butterflies into a panicked flight. Captain Kuchiki had not been amused.

Captain Komamura had started drinking. Not heavily, that would be completely out of character for him, but enough that he was definitely trying to blunt any emotional pain he felt. His Lieutenant often joined him, and they would sit quietly on the Seventh's balcony, discussing whatever came to mind.

Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake had long had weekly get-togethers with Nanao and Nemu. Their invitation had been extended to others now, including both of Ukitake's Third Seats and the trio of Lieutenants now running their divisions. Uzuru and Shuhei appeared periodically, but Momo had refused, insisting, "Captain Aizen wouldn't appreciate it."

Shuhei was taking the defection of Captain Tosen hard. He spent his days sequestered in his division's office, trying to do his Captain's job as well as his own. His nights were normally punctuated by nightmares of betrayal and of self-doubt. Toshiro had run across him one night, sitting on a roof with a bottle, staring at the moon. No tears to be seen, but he was obviously a man about to break. He had drug him back to his own rooms in the Tenth and sat with him, letting him talk it out for hours (much like Ichigo periodically did for himself). The Ninth had been hit nearly as bad as the Eleventh with injuries and deaths during the fiasco, losing all officers ranked above Sixth Seat, save for Shuhei himself. The next morning, or rather, later that day, after they had both passed out for a few hours, Toshiro had sent the Lieutenant back to his own division, along with Rangiku and the Tenth's Third Seat. "I can handle things around here for a bit, don't worry about it!" he had insisted as Shuhei looked torn.

His Lieutenant, dear Rangiku, sang in the shower. Loudly. Out of tune. Without knowing the words to the songs she was singing.

He had once walked into the Eleventh's division office, intending to drop off some paperwork. He had knocked, been beckoned inside by Kenpachi's voice, and entered, to find the giant man sprawled on the floor next to his tiny Lieutenant – playing dolls. A dollhouse had, at one point, been installed in one corner, and now Yachiru was instructing Kenpachi on the proper location to put the "baby." Kenpachi had glared, but obeyed, waving Toshiro towards the desk without looking. "Baldy and Maci-Maci made it for me," Yachiru had piped up, peering up from her dolls. "Will you play too?" she put on her most innocent face, extending a doll that had what appeared to be a buzz-cut. Kenpachi's glare was all the encouragement he needed as he plopped down.

Captain Kurotsuchi was afraid of the dark, or so he had heard from Nemu.

Shiba Kukaku had adopted the kid that had adopted a bird's form. Acknowledging that she would never be the kid's mom, she had offered him a place to stay and to learn.

Kurosaki Isshin, a former Captain of his own Tenth, had developed a "thing" as he called it for Captain Unohana. Toshiro wished him luck with that.

Jinta had finally matured enough to the point that he realized that not only was Ururu a girl, but she was an attractive one at that. His bumbling attempts at romance were giggled at, behind closed doors, by Tessai and Urahara. Ururu, for her part, just accepted them as she always had, with a shy smile and a stammer.