In the chill breeze of early winter, a vast vessel gently makes its cruise along the unseen trail in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Waves created and divided by the nose of the ship, splashing playfully against their blue kin. The mentioned large vessel is a freight ship making its trip for the continent. Its true destination is unknown, but the name of the vessel is "Bound Hummingbird." A loud horn rings out as cargo freights remain still, and the guards are roaming in every alley of the ship.

A lone teenager stands by the bridge's deck, leaning against the railings that guard people against falling off. She wears nothing but a purple jacket above her orange sleeved-shirt, long red skirt, and a thick purple scarf around her neck. A white ear muff covered her ears, sitting above her violet hair. Huffing out a mist of breath, she rubs her gloved arms together before covering half of her face to keep the warmth.

She stares off into the distance in silence, watching the waves moving away from the ship and other faraway ships strolling through. There's snow falling all around her, but most of them dissipate when touching the waters. The weather was tolerable, so she didn't have to worry about getting herself swooped up by a storm. Again, the chilly breeze splashes her face, but despite the cold, she enjoys it—a more natural substitute to an engineered air conditioner.

"Shibaaaa."

The teenager turns around to see her adoring violet-haired mother standing near the bridge. "What is it, mama?"

The mother ticks her finger on the watch. "It's tea time."

The violet teenager pouted. "Can that wait a little longer?"

"Enjoying the snow now, do you?" the mother asked with a smile. "Come on now, we surely do not want to miss the tea time."

"Just one more moment, okay?" replied the teenager.

"Oh, now being rebellious, aren't you?" the mother covered her smile.

"Wha- no! I'm just-" the girl just sighed. "Fine. I'm coming."

The teenager takes a last glance at the surrounding view before coming over to her mother. Entering the empty bridge save for the captain and his first mate, they both then sit down at a table already served with a hot kettle and two cups. Her mother kindly pours the tea on the two cups.

"Would you like some sugar, dear?" asked the benevolent mother.

"Just two cubes, please," the teenager replied, then widened her eyes a little. "Dammit, I sounded like one of those nobles again."

"What is with you and basic politeness, my little grape?"

"Stop calling me that!" exclaimed the violet girl. "Also, why are we even heading to Canada?"

"We have ourselves a few clients there who want to take a look at our merchandise," the mother replied.

"The legal kind of people?"

The mother only laughs at her question. "Legal or illegal, that's just how our business goes."

"That's just the nature of our gun-toting business, doesn't it?"

"Hohoo," the mother kept her smile but put a hand on her chest. "Such bold words."

"Hey, I'm not wrong," the girl protested.

"Of course, but also," the mother lifted a finger. "We will be having a family moment there."

"A family moment?" the violet teenager raised an eyebrow. "What are we going to do there? Throwing snowballs?"

The mother chuckles, playing her fingers with her hair. "Don't you say you want to go hunting one day?"

The girl's ears immediately perk at her response. "There's a hunting ground there?"

The violet woman laughs. "Oh, not just one. There are a lot of spots for our game."

"Is dad coming along?" the girl asked, though there's a slight bitterness in her tone

"Why wouldn't he?" the mother sipped her tea. "I understand that father is not fond of you, being an immature girl in this questionable business."

"Hey!"

"But, I'm sure he'll be as happy as I am to see his own daughter can shoot an elk for a festive dinner," the mother replied happily. "If you don't miss in your first shot, that is."

The girl irritatingly glares at her. "Are you encouraging or discouraging me?"

"I'll leave that conjecture up to you," the mother replied. "Let's finish up our tea. I have something to show you."

"What is it?"

"It's a surprise."

Annoyed by her reservation, the girl finishes her hot tea as fast as she can while her mother is taking a hike on it. Once their team time is over, the violet mother leads her down to the bowels of the ship and into an office. There awaited them a particular rifle bag on the table; its content waited to be sprung similar to a jack-in-the-box. The girl approached the bag and unlocked the bag in such eagerness.

Behold. A certain Sako 75. A famed bolt-action rifle.

"Holy crap. Is this thing from Finland?" asked the awed girl inspecting the rifle altogether.

"Yes, it is," the mother giggled. "It seems living in a ship full of weapons certainly has its perks."

"Well, whose fault is it that I got that perk?" the girl asked. "But still, this is an awesome present, mama."

"What do you say?" the mother placed a hand on her shoulder. "Shall we venture to the forest once we touch land?"

The teenager only smiled. "But of course, mama. It is time to get ourselves a little dinner."

True to her words, she got her family an elk for their dinner. And that is Shiba's first kill.


Her first branch was soon to be set up in the middle of a busy city that is Tokyo. Inside the slums of the city, to be exact. The town is, without a doubt, bustling during the night. And bustling night means business coming over to her way. And her reputation as a daughter of a well-known criminal parent certainly helped her boost her business, especially to circles of shady underground people.

And during that time, Maru was appointed as Shiba's right-hand man personally by her parents. He was pretty trusted because Maru is Shiba's good friend during the trip inside the ship, pushing aside his often crass language. Her first branch was set up to be low profile, so no police or civilians came snooping around this place by accident. Although, it didn't last long as she expected.

After satisfying a few clients, people without a gun permit, Maru enters her office at a slightly appropriate time. "'ey, boss. We've got a problem."

Shiba frowns. "One of our clients is upset with our product?"

"No," Maru shook his head. "Someone's looking for you."

"Oh?" Shiba raised an eyebrow. "Then send him in."

"It's not a client."

Shiba stops short, gazes at him. "Police?"

"I think so," Maru tilted his head. "The woman looks like a detective from one of those cop shows."

Shiba instantly turned her head at her guards, who nodded and immediately scuffled around and brought the goods out from the office as fast as possible. No sooner than a minute, all the suspicious goods have been transferred to the basement, and Shiba corrected her business shirt.

"Now let her in," Shiba ordered.

"Got it, boss," Maru obeyed, immediately leaving the office.

For a few seconds that have passed, a newcomer finally emerged from the door. It was a woman with red eyes, wavy and thick light brown ponytailed hair, and such a medium bust. The woman is wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and an opened brown jacket above her white shirt. Maru is standing behind her, just in case, this woman decided to do something unprecedented.

"Hello there," Shiba greeted professionally. "To whom do I speak with pleasure?"

"Shiba Miryoka," the detective then opened out a small notebook. "Or shall I say, Shiba Matsubara?"

Shiba only grins. "Yes. And you?"

"Well," the detective took a quick deep sigh. "My name is Detective Sumida Oharu. I only wish to ask a few questions."

"But, of course," Shiba gestured to the empty chair. "Please, have a seat."

"No, thanks," the detective lowered her notebook. "I rather stand."

"Suit yourself then," Shiba clasped her hands on the table, asserting her confidence. "How about tea?"

"Again, no, thanks," Sumida declined firmly.

A second of tense silence before Shiba nods with a sigh. "So, what do you wish to ask about?"

The detective places a few pictures onto her desk, a couple of images of suspects. "Do you recognize any of these men?"

"Hmm…" Shiba carefully looked over the faces of two men, then dismissed them with a head shake. "No, I do not recognize them."

"Is that so? Well," Sumida then put out a couple of images of handguns and rifles. "We found these weapons on their persons, and they were committing arms dealing as the police raided in to arrest them. Do you recognize any of them?"

Shiba chuckles wholeheartedly. "What kind of business do you think I'm running? Our business only handles financial loans and debts."

"Such a backwater place to open up such business, don'tcha think?" Sumida asked.

"It is, but we remain transparent of our operations," Shiba confidently replied. "And such business is irrelevant to your 'evidence.'"

"Really?" the detective asked back. "The suspects we interrogated said that these guns belong to you, alone."

"And you accuse me with that statement based on the words of two suspects?"

"It's just a lead, so I won't be going to that conclusion yet," the detective then pointed to one of the suspects. "And this man says he's working for you."

"Did he now?" Shiba asked, raising an eyebrow. "I do not remember him working for me."

"Did you forget or…?"

"I would have remembered him if he is in our employee record."

"So you don't know anything?"

"I'm afraid I do not know anything that can help with your case," Shiba then slyly pushed away from the pictures.

"I see," the detective took back the pictures, then looked around the room. "Do you mind if I take a look around your establishment?"

"As long as you are not violating the space of our establishment."

"Uh-huh," Sumida winced her eyes at the violet woman, then decidedly turned her attention at the door on Shiba's right. "I'm gonna start from that door."

"You can't enter there."

The detective snaps at her. "Why is that?"

"Off-limits. Only my employees can enter that area."

"That doesn't matter for me."

"Do you have a warrant?"

The detective stares at her for a moment, and then she immediately takes a step at that door.

*CKAK- CKLAK*

"Where do you think you're going, detective?"

With an evil smirk, Shiba watched as Sumida slowly turned to see the guards, including Maru, cocked their handguns and readied by their hips. To her amusement, Sumida doesn't seem surprised in the slightest.

"Wanna test us, little missy?" Maru asked teasingly and mockingly.

"Huh," Sumida lazily turned at Shiba. "Now I understand the nature of your business."

"So?" Shiba mockingly asked. "Are you going to cry to the police about myself?"

"I could just shoot you right now."

"And die in the process?" Shiba chuckled, taking a sip of her tea. "How about you take your leave from our fine establishment?"

Sumida only glares at her. "This won't be the first time I'll be seeing you, Matsubara-sama. You and your family of gun dealers."

"I see you have known me well. I admire your stubbornness and your honesty," Shiba arrogantly replied. "Now, please, leave the premises. Before my guards are going to think twice about letting you leave unscathed."

The detective only snorts before begrudgingly leaving the office without Maru bothering to check if she has left. Still, Shiba continues to sip her tea with a smile while the guards ease and holster their weapons. Maru then walks over to his boss, sitting by the edge of the desk.

"Why didn't we just kill her right there?" Maru questioned. "We got her boxed in like that."

"I don't wish to bring any more attention to ourselves than necessary," Shiba reasoned. "Killing her right now would pull more than just the detectives right at us."

"Yeah, but it's easier that way. We could get rid of her body."

"Does it look like I wish to spill a drop of blood on my hands?" Shiba asked with a glare. "Why kill if we can intimidate them into submission?"

"Whatever you say then, boss," Maru then leaned into her. "D'ya reckon we need to relocate? I think we're burned with the detective knows where we are."

"That would be a wise decision," Shiba agreed. "See if you can find someplace that would be befitting of our operation. We might need to displace soon."

"Roger that, boss," Maru lazily saluted with two fingers before leaving the office through the door on her right.

With that out of the way, Shiba leans forward, chin landing above her clasped hands. And a big, haughty smile appeared on her face.

"It seems the both of us would be having fun from now on, Detective Sumida."


Present-day.

Sitting in the office and working in an illegal branch gun smuggling business in Toyama, Shiba is working on a couple of manifests concerning a shipment of weapon parts. But since the manifests aren't urgent, she takes a break from it and puts her hand on another exciting document. A list of criminal files devoted to specific members of mafias and gangsters and other scums known to earth. And no work would be done without a cup of tea by her side.

George and Maru enter the room with a bag of groceries for each man. Shiba looks up at them.

"You're a bit late," Shiba stated. "Tire's popped or something?"

"The line was pretty long," George then pulls out a small bag from the grocery bag. "Here's the pretzels you asked."

"Thanks," Shiba then looked to Maru. "And that another thing I asked?"

Maru puts his bag on the table and reveals a decorated teapot. "Here's the stuff you asked. You don't know how much this shit cost."

"Let me guess, 10000 yens," Shiba answered.

"Multiply that by two," Maru replied. "That's how much this thing cost."

"I didn't expect that," Shiba widened her eyes. "But this thing is a limited item, so I don't mind wasting my money that much."

"Your mother is going to be happy to know you have that, ma'am," George said.

"She better be, George," Shiba replied, eating a pretzel before returning to the document.

Both men, in silence, curiously looking over the document, at which Maru asks. "Doing a bidding for Sakurako again?"

"Well, I'm trying to keep my promise here," Shiba sipped her tea. "Still no luck."

"Didn't you already get the descriptions from the police records?" Maru asked.

"Yeah, but most are unreliable, and the descriptions given by that guy who got arrested for keeping drugs in his store is the one that sounds accurate to me," Shiba replied. "But there are still several bastards who have those characteristics, and I even need to find their names."

"The former store owner didn't say any name?" George asked.

"He didn't have the chance," Shiba replied. "Besides, that would be a risky move when someone you hated so much knows who you are."

"I guess I can relate to that," George agreed.

"What time is it, by the way?" she asked. "I didn't bring my watch."

George checks his watch. "Eleven O'clock."

"Oh," Shiba then looked at Maru. "Are the props ready?"

"Yes, boss," Maru gave a thumbs up. "I'm going to check up with the cinematography team. And then there's that detective bitch…."

"Hey," George called, though his deep voice made another impression. "Enough with it already."

"What?" Maru asked with a high tone. "Are you supporting her now?"

"I do not have a problem with the police," George responded. "So don't bring your problem to me."

"Hey, I thought we were brothers."

"Don't even start with that."

"That's enough, you both," Shiba immediately interrupted. "I'll call Sumida just to check up on her."

"Huh?" Maru deadpanned at her. "You have her phone number?"

Shiba sighs and leans against her chair. "Sakurako."

"Ah, that makes sense," Maru then looked at George. "You're comin', Georgie? I'm gonna haul the props."

"Right behind you," George then nodded at Shiba. "Ma'am."

"Don't make a mess out there," she said as the men exited the office.

Shiba goes back to her business, reading the document and checking the manifest. Although, the notion of doing those things on two different papers was tiring and boring. She sighs again and finishes one of the pretzels. She only rested her head for a moment before going back to reading until there was a sound.

*TING-TING*

Shiba takes out her phone and checks the message. It was from Sakurako.

"Are you coming for the project today? I hope you're not busy with your questionable business."

Shiba only chuckles at her message, and with a tender smile, she texts back.

"Of course, I'm coming, my student of the year."