It was inevitable I start an AU with these two as big as this. This came to me as a dream and of course, I altered it to make it work for them. Anyway, most likely I'll post the first chapter soon (I'm actually halfway through it for the first time in a long time) so please leave me your thoughts on this prologue!

Demons Never Sleep

Prologue: From Shame to Humility

"Before one can learn humility, you must be shamed."

These words haunted the young demon as he felt the irons around his neck. It was something every male Shimada born into the family would have to face. He recalled the family legend:

Long ago, when the Shimada clan were simple rice paddy farmers, they had the misfortune of having animals constantly trying to eat their produce. It became such a problem that the men of the family would have to stay outside overnight to ensure the plants' safety. They would have to scare away the animals any way they could. Rarely, there would be nights where there wouldn't be anything out there.

One night, a young man had fallen asleep on duty. With the rustling of the grass, he woke up and scurried around the farm to find the animal before his father did. He knew he would've lost some of the rice paddies – but at least he didn't catch him sleeping. He could blame the animal for being so sneaky. Animals are sneaky, after all.

When he finally found the animal, he was shocked to find within the rice paddies a graveyard. Below him, there were remnants of livestock – possibly from neighboring farms. He screamed in horror at the carnage before him thus alerting his family. The men in the family got their pitchforks and torches, ready to fight whoever left such a horrifying mess. It wouldn't take too long before they found the creature responsible – an oni who had been found to be harassing farmers for months.

Even though they were simple farmers, the oni was outnumbered by the men. On the brink of death, the oni made a declaration.

"Your family can come and slaughter me but know this! For every child that is born a male would forever be cursed with my demon's blood coursing through their veins!" With the last of his strength, he grabbed the young man and forced him to drink his blood. Once the oni was sure the blood had been consumed, he passed away.

The Shimada family were worried and oversaw the young man, fear that he was poisoned by the oni, overnight. Thankfully, he survived the night and eventually resumed his work. The family set aside the oni's claim about the curse until the young man grew up and had gotten married.

The child seemed normal but the family was wary. Their fears were confirmed when the child hit puberty. Their skin would become darker than night and their eyes glowed an unearthly shine. Their fingernails would grow and curl. Their teeth would protrude and stick out. Fear consumed the family and they would keep the child hidden until they confronted a priest.

An exorcism wouldn't do much of anything but cause the child pain. Unsure of what to do, the family kept the child hidden until one day, somehow and someway, the ash skin fell off. His eyes had their pupils back. His fingernails rotted away and the fangs fell out. Confused, the family confronted the priest once again and the priest realized the son must be shamed into it. The boy was at his lowest when he was reborn as a human – he was shamed. Because of his shame, he was humble and never complained.

The priest promised the Shimada family, so long as the child has a home, the child will become human again. If the child was ashamed of his state, he will be reborn.

Hanzo remembered this story as it was ingrained into him. He looked at himself and indeed, his skin was black as ash and he knew his eyes had an unnatural glow about them. His fingernails had grown unnaturally and curled. His fangs protruded out.

His clan had long since heeded the warnings of both the oni and the priest and started a freak traveling show. All kinds of strange creatures roamed the grounds but everyone came for one thing. The centerpiece was himself – Hanzo Shimada. At puberty, right on schedule, the demon blood came out. He was warned by his father, but nothing could've prepared him for the pain. Did his father go through the same embarrassing ritual?

It was inhumane to put their own son in chains and iron. Hanzo had purposefully grew his hair long and tied it back – it was part of the shame. Soon, the younger Shimada brother, Genji, would face the same fate. He was only a few years younger but Hanzo had to be prepared to chain him in irons and display him as a disgusting trophy. For a while, Hanzo sat straight up and had all sorts of peoples ogle at him and be frightened by his appearance. It bothered him, but not more than anyone else would. He sat straight up and took in the shame. Nothing was more embarrassing than the last curt remark about the displayed demon. And yet, he didn't realize how much of a façade he had for his fragility.

In the strange land, somewhere he's not familiar with but it was hot. The sun felt closer than it had been. The irons had been especially hot even through the thick demon skin that coated all over him. He wore traditional farming clothing that has been passed down through generations but even through the light material, he still grew extremely hot. Thankfully, provisions were provided for him but that didn't make the heat any more bearable.

On this day, though, as hot as it was, an interesting young man passed by him. The young man had short brown hair and was quite tall. In his hand, he held a melting popsicle. His skin was tanned and he looked rough; but his eyes. Something in his eyes drew Hanzo in that no one else did.

He wasn't sure why or how but something in him stirred. Embarrassment stirred as did something else.

"Wow." The young man said. "Incredible." His drawl was strange to his ears. Hanzo didn't understand the words that came out of his mouth – but he still understood the meaning. The tone of his words took his breath away. There was a cool wind. Dust blew in between them but Hanzo kept his eyes on him. He felt he froze with time but soon the dust settled.

He reached out to the young man. The cursed, curled fingernails would pass through the cage to reach out. At first, the tanned young man stood back unsure of what to do. He looked around and Hanzo didn't even seem to care if anyone else were around them. In his eyes, it was just the two of them on this empty earth. Something about the young man before him drew the demon in.

Hanzo wanted to say something but he growled. It was unintentional but he couldn't speak normally with the fangs in the way. He couldn't speak in this awful form.

Once he was sure the coast was clear, the tanned young man drew closer to the caged demon. He reached the popsicle through the cage.

"Do ya want some? I know it's hot as hell in there. I don't know if they give ya water but…"

Again, Hanzo didn't know what he said but the action surprised him. The popsicle melted and it reeked of sugar – something he wasn't used to as he always worked on the show. He moved his hand to touch the popsicle and he could feel, through the thick skin, the other's touch. It was a moment's electricity that shocked through Hanzo. Was this supposed to happen? Was this part of the curse?

He gave him the popsicle and the young man slowly backed up. He looked at his fingers and his eyebrows raised. "Wait a minute, this is makeup! Hey! I want my money back!" He turned around and left the demon by himself. He yelled some more and soon all Hanzo heard were his echoes.

Hanzo eventually looked at the treat and noticed something – his fingernails weren't long or curled anymore.