Gohan stirred to the gentle glow of sunlight streaming through his window. Birds twittered happily outside and the day was warm and sunny. He stretched and stood, putting on his blue training suit. He had the vague feeling that something had been in his room during the night. He had sudden vision of pointed teeth grinning in blankness but it quickly slipped into the vast whirlpool of his subconscious.

As he walked out into the fields after breakfast to meet up with Kay, he tried to remember once again what it was that had bothered him that morning but nothing came to mind. Sighing he leaned over the railing that surrounded the horses' pasture and watched Kay as he herded them back into the smaller space.

When Kay had finished he trotted over, riding a favored black stallion named Rocket, and dismounted.

"How you doing Gohan? You look a little troubled."

"Nightmares last night that's all."

Kay nodded, accepting the answer and unsaddled Rocket, letting him go back to graze with the other horses.

"Gohan I think today we should try the meditation. You've been practicing for a while and I think you're ready for the real fight." Kay glanced at him. Gohan stared at him for a moment before grinning broadly.

"Alright! Yeah I can't wait!" Gohan yelled, startling the horses. (A/n: sounds like Goku during the tournament at the Grand Kai's planet.)

Kay's eyes narrowed. "Gohan I'm warning you. Be Careful. In there that thing can cause you physical damage. You have to be firm. If you let it get one single edge on you then all is lost."

Gohan visibly kept his hands from shaking as he nodded and let Kay lead him to the small room in the back of the house where they had been practicing.

He sat on the floor and closed his eyes, listening carefully to Kay's instructions.

"Set up the battle field. Make the barriers that will protect the walls of your mind. Set up the battle field-"

Kay's voice droned through Gohan's mind as he envisioned the battlefield where he would duel with his captor. He formed the barriers that would keep the demon from injuring his actual mind.

"Now summon the enemy."

Gohan took a breath and sought out the feeling of foreign power in his body, pulling it to his mind. Suddenly it was there, things were spinning, the barriers falling and the world plunged into a blood red stupor.

Gohan spun around, trying to take in all his surroundings. Things seemed to move with him and it made him dizzy. Finally his gaze settled on a small throbbing red blob. The Dæmon.

"What did you do?" He shouted.

There was a horrid snickering before the blob began thrashing, throwing itself in the air and then solidified and before him stood the image of his father.

His golden super saiyan hair cast a dull glow in the redness of their surroundings. He looks mostly like Goku, but his eyes were red and narrowed in hate. All of him seemed slightly…red.

"I merely made a more…suitable field of battle for us." The voice was grating and deep.

Gohan took a step back as the Dæmon raised its hand. A blast of red light shot towards him and he was blown backwards. The burning feeling had returned and he screamed in pain. Suddenly he was hitting the wall and he could hear his head ringing.

Kay hissed in worry as Gohan's body jerked convulsively. Blood appeared on the back of his head and his face screwed up in pain.

Gohan pulled himself to his feet. He hesitated. How could he fight his father? He shook the thought from his head. It only looked like Goku. Taking a breath he gathered his energy and threw as many energy blasts as he could.

The Dæmon blinked and took a step backwards before being pulled of his feet and being lost in a pummeling of light. Gohan blocked his eyes with his arm. Once the light had faded he looked up and blinked when the Dæmon was not there.

He wondered if he had destroyed it but ruled the option out. It couldn't be that easy. Sure enough there was a blinding pain in the back of his head and stars appeared in his eyes. More pain convulsed in his back and then his face. Again and again the Dæmon struck.

"GOHAN! Wake up boy!" Kay shook Gohan's shoulder as bruise after bruise appeared on his face and arms. Blood was on his mouth and nose. "It's killing him." Kay hissed as he stepped back.

He had only one option. He pulled out his long dagger from the sheath hidden under his thick wool coat he always wore. "I am sorry Gohan." He raised his hand, the dagger glinting in the early morning light…

(A/N: Alright, alright no cliff hanger.)

Gohan lay broken and battered on the floor of his mind. Suddenly an image flashed in his mind. Of Kay raising a dagger, aiming it…

He startled awake, the fear in his eyes not shown through mental emotion but in the physical world. Kay smiled and let the dagger fall to his side.

"What-What? How?" Gohan touched his cheek, looking at his fingers as he pulled them away. They had blood on them.

"Your body has a danger warning system. If I attempted to kill you in that particular state of mind, you would awaken to protect yourself. It's a natural instinct that most people are not aware they have."

Gohan sighed. "I don't understand. I thought I was strong enough."

"He caught you off-guard. You need to be more careful."

Gohan sighed then winced as the Dæmon gave one last searing burn before crawling back into hiding. "So what am I supposed to do?"

Kay shrugged. "Well I suppose we have to practice some more. Do not try it without me."

Gohan nodded. He didn't plan on doing it any time soon. Sighing he allowed Kay to run him through the daily practice routine.

Later that night, as Gohan slept, a whisper intruded his dreams. Gohan…they need you Gohan. But you can't help them. Not with that horrid…you have to get it out Gohan…

Gohan startled awake, unaware of what he was doing. He formed the battlefield…and summoned the enemy.

A/N: HA! I got my cliffhanger!! Muhahaha! I love being evil.