A/n: This is my first Inuyasha story so be nice! I'm not sure how long this story will be but I know that it's going to be pretty long. I have already written the first six chapters so for now I have chosen to update every Monday until all the written chapters are out. After all the written chapters are out it's going to take some time before the next update because of school and because I am a slow writer and ideas don't come to me every day. So please be patient, and if you don't mind, please leave a review when you're finished – I really appreciate it. Long, short, compliments and critics are all very welcome but no flames! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its awesome characters. I'm just barrowing them for a while. The day I do Kikyo will be long gone!

I want to thank IYlover4ever for being the awesomest beta ever! You rock!

Summary: Nightmares plague her mind. Every night, every time she closes her eyes, letting sleep drag her into unconsciousness, she feels hands, hands cold as ice, grabbing her, a secret of a dark forest lying hidden out in the open, once a paradise of beauty, now hosting an evil without restrains.

The Demon Within

Preface

Something was wrong, she could feel it. By the time those brown eyes cracked open, she knew that this was not her home, or a place she would remain by will. She sat up slowly, and big orbs widen automatically.

"A forest…" A voice in her mind whispered. "A dark forest filled with evil."

She slowly pushed herself to her feet, feeling the hard uneven ground beneath her bare feet.

"It's so dark, I can't see a thing!"

She carefully stretched her arms out in front of her as she slowly began walking.

"Silence," The strange voice echoed in her mind, "There is only silence in a dead man's grave."

"What do you mean?"

A noise from behind made her spin around, heart pounding in her chest.

Nothing.

There was nothing there. She turned around again, walking slowly deeper into the darkness.

"It's near,"

"What is near?"

"Who are you?"

No answer, just silence, all around her.

A cold touch made her gasp with fright.

A hand grabbed her wrist, making her heart pound harder against her ribcage.

A scream left her mouth as cold hands grabbed her legs.

She tried to fight, but it was useless. Their hold tightened as they began dragging her deeper into the forest.

"Let me go!" She screamed to no avail.

Laughter.

Evil laughter echoed throughout the forest, sending shivers up and down her spine. And then she was thrown to the ground, a hand grabbing her throat, squeezing tightly.

She gasped for air, clutching the white hand; trying to fight it off with all her strength.

Screaming, Kagome Higurashi bolted upright in her bed, encased in a veil of sweat. With a trembling hand she brushed the sweat away from her forehead.

A dream. It was all a bad dream, a nightmare. She reassured herself, glad that she hadn't awoken the rest of her family.

It is the third night in a row I have had these dreams. It's always the same, waking up in the forest, dragged by cold hands before choked to death. A shiver went down her spine as she relived the nightmare. She shook her head to clear the dark thoughts before grabbing her towel, ready to take a warm shower.

The warm water ran down her slim physique, relaxing her tense muscles. She leaned against the shower wall before slowly sliding down. Warm water hit her face as she looked up. Tiredness was evident in her brown eyes as she let them slid close, the warm water lulling her to into a dreamless slumber.

She awoke an hour later, shivering lightly. The warm water that ran down her skin had run cold, making her shiver. She stood up, turned the water off before wrapping a soft towel around her frigid body.

Nicely done Kagome, what would Inuyasha say if he saw you this scared now?

Inuyasha!

Oh god! He's going to be so mad! I promised to be back yesterday!

She dressed in a hurry and ran downstairs where her mother was making breakfast. She gave her mother a peck on the cheek before packing her bag-pack full of her mother's food as well as medical supplies and ramen. She grabbed the heavy bag and ran out the door yelling goodbye as she opened the door to the shrine. As she was engulfed in the familiar blue light, she heard her mother's kind voice telling her to be safe.

A smile spread across her face as she was transported through time, to the Feudal Era.