A/N- I am SO sorry for the long wait. My grades have been falling and I had to focus on those for a little bit. I love you all and you can thank 'Palm*Tree'  for getting me to write this and get my typing back in gear. This chapter is dedicated to you Jo!         Please Read and Review everyone!

Disclaimer- Rumiko Takahashi owns them all!                        

The Colors of Emotions

Chapter 35

Consequences of A Broken Promise

After changing really fast into a more comfortable white blouse, Kagome followed Miroku until they were relatively a mile away from the campsite. Miroku didn't want Inuyasha to be eavesdropping as the monk figured the idea would cross the hanyou's mind. Kagome needed complete peace, so he stopped them beside a quiet stream deep in the forest.

"Alright Kagome. What did Kaede teach you about sensing your own miko energy?" Miroku prompted as soon as the two were settled.

Kagome blushed, "I wasn't very good at that part of the training."

Miroku smirked, "You really weren't raised to be a miko huh?" He mocked jokingly.                                      

"Why you-!" And Kagome dove at the monk that was sitting in front of her. The two landed hard on the ground and tumbled until Miroku lay a top Kagome right beside the river. Miroku was chuckling and tickling Kagome's ribs relentlessly. Kagome couldn't stop from bursting into a fit of giggles, but she tried to restrain his hands nevertheless.

"I won't stop until you say 'Miroku, you are the sexiest man alive, and the ladies can't keep their eyes off of you.'" Miroku demanded with a grin.

"No!" Kagome shrieked but the scream had very little effect as it was accompanied by escaping laughs.

"Say it. You know it's the truth." Miroku teased.

"Okay, okay, I give. Miroku, you are the sexiest man alive, and the ladies can't keep their eyes off of you." Kagome repeated.

"Don't I know it." Miroku laughed.

            "Shouldn't you be training me to find my 'inner power?'" Kagome mocked.

"We probably should begin actually." Miroku suggested seriously and rolled off of her. They both sat cross-legged by the edge of the stream and Miroku began the session…well seriously this time anyway.                                

            "Close your eyes." The monk instructed.

Kagome did as she was told but murmured, "I already told you. Kaede and I went over this."                                       

"Did you ever succeed in seeing your own energy to know where to draw it from?" Miroku questioned.                        

"Well," Kagome faltered, "No. We tried, but I could never focus my mind and clear it." She smiled sheepishly.

"That's the trick. You need to physically keep your mind aware of your surroundings so you're not attacked while you're finding your miko powers. Your spiritual mind needs to search your own soul. There will be areas of power that you'll be able to sense, and you just need to tap your mind into those sources of miko power. It will be more difficult for you to find your energy I'm afraid do to how little is left." Miroku admitted.                         

Kagome took a deep breath and retracted her mind into her soul. Kaede and her had gone over this part, she just wasn't very good at sensing the miko energy. Letting her mind wander, Kagome saw flashes of memories of times she always remembered. This was why she never could focus. Kagome always had troubles on her mind, and it was often difficult to get a certain silver-haired hanyou out of her thoughts.                                                                                    

Digging deeper, Kagome felt a twinge of power. 'Gotcha!' She thought triumphantly as the power got more intense the closer in its direction she went.

Cold water enveloped Kagome's body and she screamed at the sudden sense of drowning. Frantically kicking her legs, Kagome surfaced and waited for her eyes to adjust to the sudden snap back into reality. Her deep honey eyes rested upon the hunched over figure of Miroku, who could barely keep his unmanly giggles from bursting.                    

"I told you to keep your physical mind on your surroundings." The monk gasped out as he rolled on the ground in a fit of laughter, as he had been the one to push her in to prove a point.                                                                

            Kagome climbed onto the stream's bank and squeezed the excess water out of her clothes and hair. Her glare was so intent on the monk, that she didn't take time to notice that water did not work well with a white blouse. Well, she noticed when she was predatorily approaching Miroku and his laughter abruptly stopped when his gaze landed on her exposed flesh. Her bra was also light in color, and the result didn't leave much to the imagination.                                

            Kagome shrieked when she realized her state of undress, and she crossed her arms to cover herself up. "Quit staring pervert, or I'll tell Sango!" Kagome hissed, but couldn't get the blush from her cheeks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Miroku chuckled one more time no doubt remembering why Kagome was wet in the first place. But he removed his outer robe nonetheless and wrapped it around her shivering body. The morning air was chilly, and the water was colder. Kagome was thankful for the robe, but she huffed instead of thanking him for it. It was Miroku's fault anyway that she was cold…not to mention slightly exposed.
           

The monk kissed her on the forehead and rubbed her forearms to get the warmth back in them. "Sorry 'bout that." He cracked a smile. "You should have seen your face when you came out of the water though."                                    

Kagome couldn't help but smile. "You're probably my best friend, ya know that Miroku?"                                           

"Back at ya Kag. Hey, I was really scared this morning. We all were. Inuyasha was seriously frightened… speaking of Inuyasha." Miroku's sincere face melted into his classic perverted one. "How come when I woke up last night, I didn't see you in your sleeping bag?"                                                                                                              

Kagome blushed deeply. "I was with Inuyasha in the tree. His presence has always calmed me and made me stronger. It kept Naraku away." She whispered.

"He should probably be staying with you every night then." Miroku suggested seriously.                                                

"It makes me more confident knowing I have him there with me no matter what." Kagome mused, reminiscing of the conversation right before leaving Kaede's.

*Kaede frowned. "Ye are not to leave Kagome's side to run after my sister. Kagome needs ye to stay by her, even if she denies it." Her focus turned once more to Kagome. "I'm sorry dear, but I do not have faith in your ability to control those powers of yours on your own."*                                                                                          

            "Inuyasha agreed not to go after Kikyo alone. He's going to stay by me." Kagome smiled fondly at the hanyou's promise.

"Let's go back." Miroku suggested. "You were really close to your miko power there, but you weren't focused at all physically. These sessions need to be short, because you will become too distracted if they are too long."                              

"Fair enough." And Kagome trudged back to the camp alongside Miroku.                                                                    

*                                                                                                                                             

"Ya know, Kagome and Miroku have been really close lately." Shippou commented to the hanyou who was nervously fidgeting on a tree branch above the kitsune. Sango was still sound asleep, and Kirara was laying asleep beside her. Shippou was bored, which meant his only means of entertainment was tormenting Inuyasha. Too bad for the hanyou Shippou knew exactly where he was insecure at the moment.

"Miroku's a lot nicer to Kagome too." Shippou added. The kit knew of course that Miroku and Kagome were only friends, and there was no romantic attitude about their relationship. But Inuyasha didn't know that now did he?              

"You really need to shut up Shippou." Said hanyou growled.                                                                                        

"I'm only warning you that you might have some competition. Kagome could choose Miroku." Shippou said these words so tauntingly that Inuyasha lunged from the tree to grab his large bush of tail and throw him against Kagome's unrolled sleeping bag. He didn't want to seriously injure the kit of course.                                                                       

"Kagome would never choose Miroku." Inuyasha stated.

"Are you reassuring me or yourself?" Shippou continued from where he had made himself comfortable on the squashy material.

A green phantom like snake floated just outside the perimeters of their campsite, and Inuyasha took immediate notice of the soul stealer. Shippou followed the hanyou's gaze and with a squeak, hid underneath the sleeping bag.                    

No one in the group except Kagome knew of his promise not to go after Kikyo alone. And with the possibility of Shippou's words being true causing him to be slightly angry and unsure of Kagome at the moment, Inuyasha went off alone and followed it without thinking…                                                                                                                    

*                     

Kagome and Miroku arrived back at the camp to see Sango had yet to wake up, Kirara curled up near her, and Shippou and Inuyasha nowhere to be seen…wait, a suspicious lump in Kagome's sleeping bag gives away the whereabouts of Shippou, but Inuyasha?                                                                                                                                            

"Shippou?" Kagome called sweetly.

The fox kit jumped at the sound of his adopted mother's voice and he scampered into her awaiting arms.                      

"Why are you all wet?" Shippou questioned.

Kagome turned a scowl at Miroku who decided it was time to rouse Sango. The monk gently shook the exterminator's shoulders and Sango grumbled something before turning to face the other way, leaving her in perfect groping range.  

            "Pervert!" *SLAP* And Miroku's already has grope number one of the day.   

"Shippou?" Kagome turned to the little kit in her lap. "Where's Inuyasha?"

Shippou suddenly looked slightly uncomfortable. Suddenly finding his paws very interesting, the kitsune answered, "He went after Kikyo."

Silence fell over the camp. The bickering of Sango and Miroku halted immediately.                                                       

"He went alone." Kagome whispered.

The demonic power came quickly, but Kagome felt the surge of it just in time to make it stop. Miroku took notice of the quick flash of orange power before it was quickly bottled up by its owner.                                                               

Not able to deal with the energy, Kagome bolted unknowingly in the opposite direction than Inuyasha had gone in. No one followed because of how dangerous Kagome was at the moment, and it was doubtful that anyone could catch up anyway.

"Miroku? What emotion was that?" Sango questioned worriedly and she caught on to what was happening.                  

"She feels betrayed." Miroku answered.

*                                                                                                                                                         

Kagome ran fast and far. The rush of demon energy gave her incredible power, and there was a lot to burn. Finally weakening herself down, Kagome stopped to catch her breath leaning against a large tree. "Inuyasha, you bastard." She whispered. But Kagome immediately halted her thoughts. She couldn't keep feeling that she was betrayed as it only fed her power. Her heart beat began to calm, and she decided that she wasn't going to judge Inuyasha's actions until he had gotten a chance to explain himself.                                                                                                                  

Kagome smiled. That was a strangely mature decision for her…

"I figured I could get you alone." A cold, detached female voice broke into her thoughts.                                               

Kagome whipped around to see the graceful form of Kikyo standing before her. But before she could even stutter some sort of lame greeting, Kikyo continued.

"I knew there was something wrong with you." Kikyo hissed. "What are you? You used to be a miko, but I don't sense any pure energy left in you."

Kagome jumped to her own defense, "Hey, there is some left." Her voice sounded braver than she actually was. Kagome really wished she had her bow and arrows with her. Kikyo didn't seem like she was in a very good mood.                  

"Why are you surrounded with such a demonic aura? I even feel a sense of Naraku on you." Kikyo spat out the words and looked at Kagome as if she were absolutely disgusting. "What kind of reincarnation are you? Here you are, soaking wet, covered in a monk's holy robe, and withholding completely destroyed miko abilities." Kikyo wouldn't let up. With a cold smirk she added, "It's not a wonder Inuyasha will never choose you."                    

Kagome's eyes pricked with tears. Kikyo was hitting some sensitive spots, and her mind continued to play the first image Naraku had ever placed in her mind.                                                                                                                  

*                                                                                                                                             

"Let me show you what will happen if you do not join me…."

-- --  -- --  -- --Kagome found herself in a beautiful field. The sky was gloomy and a cool wind blew her hair. Suddenly she saw Inuyasha appear at the edge of the field.

"Inuyasha!"

But he ignored her. He began walking away from her.

"Inuyasha! Wait!" She ran after the hanyou. At the edge of the field she found herself at the top of a hill looking down at Inuyasha. He was embracing and kissing Kikyo. "No." Kagome murmured to herself. She didn't believe what she saw in front of her. Inuyasha backed away slightly from Kikyo. He turned towards Kagome with a smirk.

"Kikyo can find the rest of the shards. You're worthless. Go home." Inuyasha lifted up the almost complete Shikon jewel. He handed it to Kikyo.

"B-but, I thought you wanted me by your side."

"I lied wench."

'You're worthless…worthless…worthless.' The harsh words echoed in Kagome's mind. He had voiced one of her biggest fears. She felt betrayed, hurt, angry, vengeful, and other emotions that exposed how deeply she was truly affected by two little words. Kagome felt power surge through her. She looked down to find her hands glowing black.

'Black?'

Without even realizing what she was doing, Kagome placed her hands in front of her and formed a dark, menacing sphere of energy. She shot the ball at the couple in front of her and watched as they were both destroyed.

Kagome screamed.-- --  -- --  -- --

With a start, she found herself back in the white mist.

"He will betray you in the end. And you will kill him." Naraku's voice echoed through the mist.

"No! That isn't what will happen."

"If you join me, you will not have to feel the pain of betrayal. You will not kill Inuyasha with your own hatred."

"That emotion was hate?"

"Correct."

"But I could never hate Inuyasha."

"If you continue to follow him around he will betray you in the end. You will kill him and Kikyo with your hatred and you will have nothing left. Join me, and I will give you everything. In return, I want access to your power."

"I don't believe you."

"You will. Oh yes my little miko, you will be mine."

"Get out of my mind!"

*

Kagome snapped back to the present as she heard the creek of Kikyo's arrow being pulled back upon its string.            

'I really was betrayed by Inuyasha.' Kagome thought. 'Kikyo could take my place.' Kagome watched in fear as the arrow was aimed at her.

"You are a disgrace Kagome." Kikyo spat. The arrow flew.

Kagome had picked up some agility over the years, but only enough so the arrow didn't hit anywhere fatal. The shaft of the arrow now protruded from her left shoulder. Kagome gave a cry of pain when she was hit and fell to the ground. She leaned against the large tree trunk for support. She turned a glare up at Kikyo as she tried to hold in her tears.

Another arrow was drawn and released. Kagome dodged and now had an arrow through her left thigh. Kikyo walked up to Kagome's weakened body a snatched the jewel shard from where it hung around Kagome's neck. "You've even corrupted the jewel." Kikyo scoffed disapprovingly.

 "I will always be the better one." Kikyo stated nonchalantly as if she were commenting on the weather.                        

Kagome couldn't stand it. Inuyasha would always choose Kikyo. Kikyo had some control over Naraku. Kikyo was a pure and powerful miko. Kikyo.was.better. 'It's not fair!'                                                                                        

Kagome's glare became furious, and before her or her incarnate knew what had happened, Kikyo was engulfed in a huge surge of black power. The clay body was completely destroyed.

*"If you continue to follow him around he will betray you in the end. You will kill him and Kikyo with your hatred and you will have nothing left. Join me, and I will give you everything. In return, I want access to your power."*

Kagome fell into darkness.

--         A red-clad hanyou ran towards where he had smelled Kagome and Kikyo's scent after not finding Kikyo by following the soul-stealer. It had all been a trap to get him to leave Kagome's side. Kikyo wanted to get to Kagome!

The scene Inuyasha came across would haunt his nightmares forever. Kagome lay unmoving in a bloody heap. Kikyo could not be seen, though her scent was faintly still there. The women's souls in Kikyo's body had all moved on as soon as they had been set free. The only reminder of the undead miko was a small floating orb of light that slowly moved towards Kagome's form. It entered her body and disappeared. Her soul had finally become one again.                         

Inuyasha rushed to Kagome side.                                                                                                                                  *

Miroku's head snapped in the direction of the sudden rush of energy. "No." He whispered. Telling Sango and the others to stay put, the monk ran towards where his best friend could possibly lay dead.
*                                                                                                                                             

Naraku's laughter echoed through the chamber as he watched the events unfold though Kanna's mirror. "Kikyo, you unknowingly did me a great favor."                                                                                                                                            The pieces are falling into place                                                                                                                                     *                                                                                                                                                                                  Love you all,                                                                                                                                                                 vold (Meggie)