> So what is the small character's use? I know you can use them to write stuff like myu and ryo, but the small tsu character doesn't seem to do anything then...
Small tsu is a consonant lengthener — well, not really; look up "geminization".
There's a pronounciation difference between こち (kochi) and こっち (kocchi).
The other small kana are used for vowel sounds that don't have their own full kana, like りょ.
My Japanese has gotten better lately. I can read the Japanese in >>1's posts, and I'm going through Yotsuba&! and Aria now. But I still don't know any more kanji...
This would be easier if I could take a real class. "Remembering the Kanji" is a good book, though.