I got rid of the other chapter seven and replaced it with this one. Enjoy!

Gebahyou

(Rumors)

Soifon woke up feeling on top of the world with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. (yes it's cliche' but I also think its cute as well. Deal)

She had just spent another wonderful night sleeping peacefully in the arms of her wonderful boyfriend. And now she was staring at his sleeping form, snoring soundly beside her, gently running her hand through his long, white hair.

Soifon had never been like this toward anyone except for Yoruichi-sama. She never thought in a hundred years that she would feel this close to anyone ever again yet here she was, lying in bed with her boyfriend, looking serenely at his face and feeling totally and completely content to just lie with him, forever.

Could she really lie with him forever? Could she wake up every morning in his arms and totally be content with just being in his presence?

What she really wanted to ask herself but was too afraid to even think was could she spend the rest of her life with this man?

Pledging her allegance to Yourichi-sama was one thing but spending one's entire life with just one being was another. Was she seriously considering spending the rest of her life with Jyuushiro Ukitake?

What was she thinking?! She and Jyuushiro had only been dating for a few weeks, two to be exact, and now she was considering spending forever with him.

Soifon seriously needed to get out of this man's bed and recollect her thoughts in a territory more familiar to her. Say, like her own bed in her own division.

Just as Soifon turned over on her side to get up out of bed, she felt an arm pull her closer to a firm, lean muscled body as a voice whispered in her ear, "And where do you think you're going?"

"Uh . . . To the restroom?" she smiled awkwardly.

"Liar", he turned her over to face him, wrapping her tightly yet gently in his embrace. "Now why are you trying to sneak out on me?" he asked.

"I wasn't . . .", she trailed off but she could see the stern look on his face that told her she should quit yanking his chain and tell him the truth.

She almost felt like a child being scolded by her teacher but she just smiled and kissed his nose lightly. "You look so cute when you're mad", she giggled a little.

"Oh I do, do I?" he faked another angry face, barring his teeth at her and growling.

"Yes, you do", she giggled some more.

"Alright, nice try but you never answered my question", he looked at her, bemused at her attempt to change the subject.

"If you must know", she sighed. "I was just watching you sleep and thinking how peaceful you look", she admitted, which wasn't totally a lie but wasn't entirely the truth.

"Oh really?" he quirked an eyebrow at her. "Well, what brought this about?" he nuzzled himself closer to her, giving her his undivided attention.

Soifon was in awe of the look he was giving her and could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks as she tried to think of a reasonable answer as to why she was staring at him in his sleep.

"If you're too embarrassed to answer, I can wait to hear it some other time", he told her.

She sighed relief but then her breath caught in her throat when she heard him say, "But don't think this is over", he looked deeply into her charcoal grey eyes.

"Um . . . Okay", she gulped but smiled when he planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"It's okay if you want to keep some things to yourself but I hope that one day you'll be comfortable enough with me to share all your secrets. Until then, I'll just have to wait", he whispered into her hair.

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, I'm just afraid of how you'll react", she said softly.

"Well, unfortunately, I can't control how I feel anymore than you can control how you feel but give me some credit that I would not over react to the things that you want to tell me", he told her.

"So if I told you that I felt that my heart was pounding so fast that it might explode and that I think this relationship may be going faster than I might like, what would you say?" she stared into his chocolate brown eyes.

"I'd say 'Soifon, I didn't mean to rush things with you and I hope you can forgive me for my ignorance and allow me to try again at the pace most comfortable for you'", he looked at her with the sincerest smile on his face.

"Oh Jyuushiro", she buried her face in the crook of his neck. "How do you always know the right thing to say?"

"Years of wisdom and patience", he chuckled softly in her hair.


After she had showered and Jyuushiro fixed her breakfast, she decided she would head into her division a little early to catch up on some her almost overdue paperwork.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up to work on time", one of her female subordinates mumbled behind her back.

"Did you say something Tsuzame?" Soifon addressed the girl.

"Nothing Soifon-taicho", the blond girl bowed.

"My, she must really be starving for attention if she's so desperate as to go out and find a boyfriend", she heard someone else say behind her. A male voice this time.

"Poor Ukitake-taicho. She's only using him to forget about Yoruichi-sama", the blond girl said this time.

"I'm not even sure she's straight", the male voice said.

Soifon decided to ignore them and headed straight for her office, where she locked the door and cried for the first time since Yoruichi left.

She couldn't believe what they were saying behind her back. Did her entire division think she was only interested in Jyuushiro as a means to forget about their former captain Yoruichi-sama?

Of course she wasn't.

She had fallen for Jyuushiro a long time ago before Yoruichi-sama had left her. But was she truly in love with him now or was she just trying to pick up the pieces of her life before Yoruichi had shattered them?

Love?! Did she, Soifon, taicho of squad two as well as commander of the stealth force think she was in love with a man she had only been dating for two weeks? There was just no possible way.

Although, she had fallen for him all those centuries ago when Yoruichi-sama had left her in his care, so why couldn't she be in love now?

Because she was older and supposedly wiser now, she knew better than to become too attached to someone so quickly before she has a chance to get to know them completely.

But Jyuushiro was different, right?

Jyuushiro was nothing like Yoruichi-sama. For one thing, he was a man and Yoruichi-sama was a women. Two, he dried away the tears left by the former Shihouin clan leader and captain of her squad and eased her fears and nightmares. And three, he was far more trustworthy than Yoruichi-sama and she felt he cared for her dearly.

So who cares what everyone thinks she is doing? In her heart, she cares for Jyuushiro and wants to see where their relationship will go.

That's when Soifon decided she didn't give a fuck what they said. Let them talk. She was their captain and a damn good one at that. And a good captain wouldn't care what her squad said about her. No, she would march out there and do her job.

With that being said, she opened the door to her office and stepped out into her division. Then she ordered, "Attention squad members, since you all seem to have so much free time on your hands, today, we will wipe the entire division clean until it gleams and all of Rukongai can see it".

"What?!" she heard her squad groan in unison.

"You heard your captain, now, move it!" she bellowed.


"Good morning Jyuushiro", he heard the cheerful voice of his oldest and bestest friend call from outside his office door.

"Good morning Shunsui", Jyuushiro called back, opening the door. "What brings you by so early this morning?" he asked.

"Well, I wish I had good news to tell you but I don't", Shunsui looked towards the ground, avoiding his friend's face.

"Shunsui, whatever it is, I'm sure it isn't as bad as you're making it out to be", Jyuushiro reassured him.

"Oh it's not about me", he finally looked to the white haired captain. "It's about you and Soifon", he said.

"Oh, I see", the thirteenth division captain turned away from the eighth division captain and looked at a spot on the wall. "So, what did Soul Society have to say about me and Soifon?" he asked.

"Just that either you're real desperate for companionship to want to date her or that she is using you to forget about Yoruichi-sama", he said quietly.

"Is that the best they can come up with?" Jyuushiro laughed out loud. "Ha. Matsumoto could make up a better rumor than that", he laughed even harder. "Yoruichi-sama was exiled centuries ago and we both know that I am not that desperate. I happen to like Soifon and she is, surprisingly, fond of me. Although, I think we could really have something here but if these rumors get to her--"

"Already taken care of", Shunsui interrupted. "Kenpachi and Ichigo have already threaten to beat up and/or kill anyone that dare try to use this rumor to hurt either one of you and Rangiku is dishing out some dirty secrets on some of the other shinigami in the thirteen Gotei to take off the heat of this rumor", he informed his worried friend.

"Good, but how long do you think it will take before Soifon finds out if she hasn't already?" he asked, worry still evident in his voice.

"I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see on that one", Shunsui shrugged.

"Ukitake-taicho", his female lieutenant ran into the room.

"Yes, what is it Kiyone-fukutaicho?" the white haired captain turned to her.

"Two squad members are fighting on the training ground as we speak this very moment", she shouted.

"Well Kiyone, that's what you're suppose to do on the training grounds", Jyuushiro chuckled silently.

"Yes captain but they're not really training, they're actually trying to kill each other!" she exclaimed.

"What?!" Jyuushiro ran out the door, past his fukutaicho and towards the thirteenth division's training grounds.


"You lying bastard!" a tall boy with blond hair and green eyes yelled, zanpakuto aimed at his opponent's throat.

"It's not a lie", his opponent, a boy with red hair and hazel eyes smirked. "I mean, why else would the captain even date a girl like Soifon-taicho? Because he is a sex deprived old man looking for someone to screw and so he chose the most lonely and pathetic woman in all of Soul Society and the only reason he is stringing her along is because either the sex is that great or he doesn't feel like trying to have to work that hard at getting it", he explained.

"Why you fucking son of a bitch! How dare you speak ill of the captain like that. Fly Kaiwashi!", the blond lifted his zanpakuto as he gathered up his reiatsu and swung at his enemy.

"You missed", the redhead grinned as he shunpo-ed beyond the blond. "Seek'em out Bouryakuitachi!", he shouted as his zanpakuto began to change form, going from a straight and narrow sword to a curvy one with stripes going down the blade.

"Enough!" Jyuushiro bellowed as he deflected Bouryakuitachi's attack and turned to glare at the redhead. "Chojin, what is the meaning of this?" Then he turned to address the blond. "And you Akimura, what has gotten into you?"

"Forgive me taicho but Chojin decided to open his trap and say some fowl things about you that I could not permit him to get away with his disgracefulness", Akimura explained.

"While I appreciate you for honoring your taicho, I must inform you that it is not your job to reprimand any ill behaved member of my squad. I am the taicho and you should have informed me of Chojin's actions and let me handle it", he scolded the blond boy. "As for you Chojin, what exactly gives you the right to say what ever it is you feel about me? I don't care whether you like me or not but when you speak ill of me, it only makes me question your loyalty not only to me but to the squad as well as the thirteen Gotei. Akimura, tell me, what exactly did Chojin say to upset you so much?" Jyuushiro asked.

"I'd rather not say", Akimura bowed his head and turned his gaze away from his captain.

"I see", Jyuushiro nodded.

"Well I have no problem repeating what I said", Chojin grinned twistedly. "I said you were a sex deprived old man looking for someone to screw but why you chose a pathetic and lonely woman like Soifon-taicho is behind me".

"Is that all?" Jyuushiro sneered.

"Oh, that and I said that the only reason you're stringing her along is because either the sex is good or you just don't feel like having to find someone else to screw. But then why would you want to when Soifon-taicho is so easy--"

"You mutha fucking bastard!" Jyuushiro grabbed Chojin by the collar and lifted him slightly off the ground. "Soifon is not pathetic and she damn sure isn't easy", he growled a little.

"She must be if you're doing her", he chuckled.

Jyuushiro grew furious and shunpo-ed as fast as he could until he slammed Chojin into the nearest wall, his hand now squeezing his throat.

"Taicho", Akimura shunpo-ed over.

"Listen you little punk", Jyuushiro snarled as he began ringing the life from his squad member. "Soifon, as I said before, is not easy. In fact, we have yet to have sex because unlike you, I cherish the woman for her body as well as her mind and her soul, and not like some sex object. Secondly, while I may not have had sex, I am not in any way trying to scratch some itch. I have some self control and don't date a woman just to hop in bed with her. And thirdly, I don't care what you say about me, but don't you fucking dare say some shit like that about my Soifon ever again or you'll have to deal with me and I promise you, I will not be merciful", he hissed the last five words as Chojin's hazel eyes rolled back into his head.

"Taicho, you're killing him", Akimura grabbed Jyuushiro's arm.

Jyuushiro let go of Chojin's throat and let him fall to the ground. Chojin coughed a little as he choked on the foam escaping from his mouth.

"Take him to the fourth division for treatment", Jyuushiro said just as coldly as Byakuya, then turned and began walking away. "After he is fully recovered, take him to the thirteen division prisons", he called over his shoulder before he shunpo-ed off.


So far the second division was peacefully and quietly cleaning up when one of the squad members threw down her rag and glared at Soifon.

"Tsuzume, why have you stopped?" Soifon questioned her.

"Because I'm tired of cleaning this damn place", she barked.

"Well, if you're tired of cleaning then leave. But know if you leave, your position on this squad will be no more and I have no intention of letting you back in", Soifon said coolly and calmly.

"Are you freaking kidding me?", the blond shinigami looked shocked. "The only reason why we're even cleaning this damn place is because you're pissed about what I said this morning", she huffed.

"I can assure you Tsuzume, I am not pissed by what you said but more upset for the lack of respect you showed towards your taicho", Soifon said.

"Oh really?", she smirked. "So, it has nothing to do with the rumors that said you're just a desperate pathetic fool trying to create a false relationship with Ukitake-taicho in hopes that people will believe you have finally moved on from the former taicho Yoruichi-sama?" she asked.

"How dare you", Soifon flashed stepped in front of the blond shinigami and slapped her across the face, angry, hot tears welling in her dark grey eyes. "Don't you ever mention that bitch's name in my presence again!" she cried. "As for the rumors, I don't give a damn. I care about Jyuushiro more than I could have ever cared for her. So don't you talk to me about being a pathetic fool. Because the only pathetic fool I see is the one trying to get her kicks out of hurting their taicho and not following orders", she spat.

"You still seem pathetic to me. You were crying when Yoruichi-sama left you and you're crying now. Why Yamamoto-soutaicho made you taicho is beyond me", Tsuzume shook her head.

"Shutup!" Soifon swung her leg around and kicked the blond ex-squad member and sent her flying down the hallway.

"Choko!" her lover (the male from this morning), a man with blue her and brown eyes ran after her.

"I think she cracked a rib", Choko said while coughing up blood.

"Soifon", she heard the voice of her boyfriend from behind her.

Soifon whirled around, tears falling heavily from her sad, charcoal eyes as she lunged into Jyuushiro's arms.

"Shhh. It's alright, I'm here", he stroked her midnight blue hair while her shoulders shook uncontrollably.

Soifon didn't care that she was crying openly in front of her squad, or that she had just kicked one of her own squad members into a wall. All she wanted was to be held by the one who could make all her pain go away.

"Take me home", she sobbed into his white haori.

"Okay", he replied as he lifted her in his arms and shnpo-ed off.


"You hungry?" he asked her for the fifth time as he lay holding her in his bed.

"I don't want anything. I just want the pain to stop", she sobbed again.

"I know", he said as he gently kissed her on the forehead.

Jyuushiro knew the memory of Yoruichi-sama had flooded back into her heart and now it was crying out in pain and sadness.

He wished there was something he could do to cheer her up but nothing seemed to work. He thought maybe if she ate, she would feel better but she just declined and cried more. Then he suggested that they go get some fresh air but she just nodded her head no and said she just wanted to stay in bed with him.

He had asked her what he could buy her to make her feel better but she said nothing he bought would take away the pain so he decided to just leave it be. But he was beginning to worry about Soifon.

She hadn't ate in hours and she hadn't stopped crying. He was worried that she was going to let her sorrows consume her again and she would be lost to him forever.

"Soifon, I wish there was something I could do but I don't know anymore. I don't want to see you cry anymore", he whispered gently in her ear, hugging her tighter to his chest.

"Just let me lie here with you. That's I need", she snuggled deeper into him and smiled, a little.

Jyuushiro saw the small, sad smile and knew that she would be okay. Maybe not right away but eventually she would get over this and return to the happy woman he fell in love with all those centuries ago.

Soon, she stopped crying and fell asleep and Jyuushiro followed suit.

Well, that was the end. How was it?

And thank you to kyokaourora, wisdom-jewel, and l'ange-sans-ailes. I really appreciate all your help.

I tried to incorporate all the ideas that you guys gave me but some of them I decided to save for later. I hope you like.

Oh. Gebahyou literally means gossip but I liked the word rumors better. Kai means large and washi means eagle. (Kaiwashi large eagle) Bouryaku means scheme and itachi means weasel. (Bouryakuitachi scheming weasel) Just some little facts I thought you should know.

Here's what happens next . . .

Soifon had returned to her normal self again but Jyuushiro could still tell that she was sad.

She started spending less time at his place and started staying the night at her place and everytime she visited him, it was always after she had cried her eyes out and she would just lie with him until the tears stopped.

Now they were sitting in his kitchen, with him cooking breakfast and Soifon reading the paper.

"So, what does the paper say today?" he asked her.

"Just some crap about how old Yamamoto is and Kenpachi went on another rampage", she sighed.

"Oh really? What about?"

"Surprisingly, it was about Yachiru this time", she replied.

"Oh", he quirked an eyebrow.

"Yeah, some guy hit on Retsu and Kenpachi just went crazy", she laughed a little.

"Sounds like Kenpachi", Jyuushiro chuckled, happy to see Soifon laugh for once.

"We should take some time off and do something together, just the two of us", he sat a plate of eggs and bacon down in front of her.

"Where do you wanna go?" she looked up at him, a smile on her face.

Well, that's all you get for now.

Please read and review.