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.

Cookies to all the reviews this far. I think I've managed to respond to every review. Most of my stories don't get many/any reviews since I don't tend to focus on main characters often – a lot of my Naruto fics are based on nameless or background characters. It's really quite inspiring to get reviews in the quantities I've gotten.

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

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

Casual

It came as a bit of a surprise when Captain Kyoraku Shunsui approached him after a Captain's meeting, some weeks after the tea-ceremony lesson.

He surprised it really shouldn't have. Ukitake and Kyoraku were as close as brothers (though rumors suggested there might be more), and anything one knew the other was sure to know about in short order. His only concern was what, exactly, Kyoraku wanted.

His bow was stiff – it was early and he had been up late finishing paperwork darling Matsumoto hadn't. All he wanted was an hour or so to nap in, and the odds of that happening… well, snowballs stood better chances in hell.

Kyoraku grinned at him. "Captain Hitsugaya, good morning!" he beamed beneath his wide-brimmed straw hat, his teeth gleaming like a secondary sun.

"Captain Kyoraku," he acknowledged, wishing he had a pair of sunglasses to dampen the view.

"Please, please. We're friends, right? Call me Shunsui." He motioned him forward, and the pair began walking towards the gate of the First. Kyoraku's flamboyantly pink haori fluttered lazily in the breeze. "Anyway, how are you holding up? It's not easy being a new Captain, after all."

Oh great. He's checking to make sure I'm not going to have a nervous breakdown.

"I've adjusted well enough, I'd say," he began, not wanting to go too far on the defensive. That was sure to alert the other man of his unceasing terror that he'd somehow screw up.

Kyoraku peered down at the shorter man. He doubted Hitsugaya noticed it, likewise with anyone who dealt with him on a daily basis, but his shoulders were slumped, noticeable stress-lines marred his brow, and bags rode prominently under his eyes. "Is that so?" He didn't think he'd get any real information volunteered, but it had been worth a shot.

He half paid attention as Toshiro changed the topic deftly to recruitment. That was fine. He had a plan on how to loosen the younger man up.

"Lieutenant Matsumoto?"

She spun around, surprised at the deep voice calling her name. She stopped to allow the Captain of the Eighth to catch up.

"Sir? Is there anything I can help you with?"

He beamed. "Lieutenant, there most certainly is."

Toshiro grit his teeth. She had to be involved in this.

Killing his Lieutenant would probably be frowned upon.

Probably.

There was a chance though…

A pair of his lower-seated officers walked past him, dressed in what would be considered casual clothes. In the World of the Living. There were Hawaiian shirts in his division. And plaid. And argyle. Someone would be suffering for this.

And then his Lieutenant sashayed out of their office. Her denim shirt was at least modest… by her standards. And most of her cleavage was in her shirt.

Then he saw it.

Offensive.

Huge.

Technicolored.

The banner stretched from one end of his office to the other. Streamers hung from it, as did little strings of beads and lights.

Casual Friday, huh? Hyorinmaru sounded far too amused.

Ukitake looked up from his teacup, frowning at the grinning Kyoraku. "Shunsui… what, exactly, did you talk Lieutenant Matsumoto into doing?" he asked as her name echoed across the entirety of the Soul Society.