Chapter 2- The Glamorous Life

Matako slowly traversed over the littered street. She could see the hideout up ahead now. She had cleaned off most of the blood from her guns and clothes as to not leave a trail. However, enough traces of it still lingered to give her modern features a temporarily savage appearance.

A homeless man cocked his head when he saw her. She noted the shotgun poorly hidden beneath his newspaper blanket. The man slammed his hand against a large strip of metal. Several rough-looking gangsters came into view. One of them signaled her to follow.

An old stereo system was blaring in the background as she entered the mafia's garage. The room smelled of alcohol and gasoline. The lookouts escorted her to a man wearing a black kimono. He was the local crime lord, Ban. Around him were several bodyguards gripping katanas.

"I take it you gunned down the bastard?" Ban asked.

"Of course" she said.

Ban slowly examined her. She was staring at him with her typical gaze of boredom. Her eyebrows remained furrowed as always. Ban's eyes drifted to her chest and than to her skirt. Matako didn't give a damn. Ugly bastards like him always wanted what they couldn't have.

The crime lord tossed her a stack of dollar bills. Matako caught it and began to count them.

Matako said, "By the way, someone's ratting you out. I don't like bitching but they seemed to know I was coming."

She then said, "Let me be frank: I can't keep working with you. Either straighten your act up or I'm gone."

"What?" said one of Ban's bodyguards, "How dare you speak to the boss like that!"

"Shut up." she said, "The grown ups are talking."

Ban smiled. The Red Bullet was known to be arrogant and to voice her opinion loudly. In the past it often got her in trouble. Her reputation these days shielded her from the consequences.

His facial expression began to display a grimmer mood.

"Now that I know about it, I won't tolerate such insubordination."

"I just thought I'd give you the heads up is all. It's bad business for both of us, the way things are now." she said.

Ban took down a cup of sake. Her news was stressing him more than he let on.

"I thank you for your services." he said.


Matako slowly undressed. She let her mind drift, finding the sound of the shower running soothing. She stepped in to feel its warmth. It slowly washed off the dirt and grime. The smell of gunpowder and blood was fading too. She didn't care to reminisce over the mission. Such thoughts would plague her whole day. But one particular thought managed to make it through- Shinsuke Takasugi.

Her eyes opened at her memory of him.

"Shit" she said. Shampoo had found its way into her eyes. She slowly washed it out.

"Should I go to see him?" she asked herself. Now that she had thought it over, she couldn't help but wonder if she were missing out on some rare opportunity. Matako began to wonder why it was she had let him act so freely at gunpoint. She wondered if she had lost her nerve and if so, then why? Then it hit her. Since the very moment he had challenged her pistol, Takasugi had her. Her interest and her mind had become fixated on his motives. Even now it was luring her to do something she would never even consider.

Just what is he planning on showing me? Is it just an interview? Is he already expecting a 'yes'?

"Tch…" she said, "why is he so confidant?"

She turned off the faucet and let herself stand in the shower for a few more minutes.

I'll go. I want to know what's so special about this job. I want to know why he's special.

Matako slipped into a white robe and ordered in a meal. She made herself comfortable before turning on her television. She browsed channel after channel with disinterest.

She at last tuned into a slapstick comedy. Matako smiled but found her series cut off by a sudden news announcement.

"I want my show." she said.

The reporter began to explain that only a few minutes ago a military tanker had been seized. All of its cargo was believed to be taken, but its crew was left behind to die in the explosion that ensued. Matako knew it was more work of the Joui. She couldn't care less. Edo had never reached a true state of peace. Despite calling it a victory, more than enough rebels had survived the Joui war.

After finishing her meal, she did a bit of laundry. Tomorrow she would go out shopping for a new outfit. Like the freshly bloodstained one today, it was bound to be expensive. She led a rather luxurious lifestyle outside of work. Her entire apartment was stylish and large enough to be a house. It came with a private pool and bar. It was one of three she owned on various sides of Edo. Every apartment was filled with high end technology and appliances. Each one had a room full of pricey clothes, shoes, and jewelry.

Matako's profession allowed her to maintain such high class living. It also allowed her to do something else she loved even more. It allowed to her hone her skills. She loved nothing more than firing off a round of a pistol and hitting a target between the eyes, all amidst the heat of battle. Matako loved the scent of gunpowder her pistols produced. She also loved guns themselves. While her walk-in closet was full of apparel and shoes, it had a secret door that concealed her taste in guns. This was her collection of both old fashioned and new end firearms. Her favorite had to be her classic duel revolvers- something the western rebels once used. These gallant men were called cowboys and in all the oldies, led thrilling lives in the desert. Her revolvers were a little less convenient than newer models, but she had adapted to use them proficiently. These guns were probably Matako's closest companions. They were certainly her most trusted.

Matako slipped under the covers at about midnight. She would get up about nine and head out to do shopping.


"Don't move or I'll blow your brains out."

"I said don't move! Now tell me who you are."

"Shinsuke… Takasugi"

Her eyes opened to the sound of her alarm clock. She quieted its angry fits by slamming her palm onto the button. Matako yawned and rubbed her eyes. She squirmed out of bed and fixed the covers. She called up housekeeping before leaving the apartment. Kijima's guns were safely locked away and she had been careful to clean any traces of blood off the floor.

Matako headed out the door wearing a dark blue kimono with a pattern of silver leaves. Around her, Amanto and humans were going about their daily business. She leisurely browsed shop window after shop window. Matako turned her head in curiosity as she saw a long haired man walk by her. It was his companion that made her stare in disbelief. The man's companion was wearing the outfit of a cartoonish duck. Matako quickly strode on past.

She looked up at Edo's clear blue sky. The backdrop of Amanto skyscrapers could be seen in the distance. Matako went on her way. She eventually stopped at a shoe store, one of many department stores she would visit in the rich districts. She intended to spend the rest of her afternoon doing so. This was her idea of how to enjoy free time. Matako hadn't much of a social life and didn't care for one. She didn't need girlfriends to open up to. Even if she tried, it would be hard to hide her gun slinging side. She didn't get around to dating either. She felt this would have a similar if not worse consequence.

Matako spent the remainder of her afternoon sitting in a café. She browsed news articles and periodically took a sip of her beverage. After she was finished, Matako stared out through the window into the street. She noticed the Amanto soldiers and the occasional policeman that walked by.

She decided to blow the rest of the midday back at her apartment. Six o'clock was taking longer to arrive than she had hoped. Her day off was becoming harder and harder for her to enjoy. Matako tossed and turned on her sofa. She flipped through channels and magazines. "Why am I so restless?" she wondered.

At last, the clock struck five. Matako entered the bathroom and changed into new garbs. She dressed herself in an alternative red version of her usual pink outfit. Matako applied a fresh touch of makeup onto her face. She scented herself with a pleasant perfume. She would look her best for her interview.

Author's Note: Thank you for the warm reviews! I'm glad to see MatakoxShinsuke fans, and Matako fans too. She's one of my favorite Gintama characters.