A young boy hovering in place with a shamisen in his arms, suspended by a flock birds. It's not what you'd expect from a typical school boy's drawing. But for the hero of our story, that very drawing is his reality. One that he keeps very close to his heart.

"What are you drawing, Kubo?" A curious classmate seated next to him, asked.

"Nothing!" Kubo instinctively covered his drawing with his arm, shielding it from his class mate's prying eyes, which only served in heightening her curiosity.

"I just want to see!" The girl reached over his arm and plucked the drawing from his desk.

"Is that a guitar? And are you flying like a bird?!"

"Give it back!" Kubo cried out. The loudness of his voice startling the girl, making her fall from her chair; the first omen of the day's troubles for our protagonist, but that really was the least of it.

High up on the top floor of Kabutomushi Incorporated, its CEO Hanzo watched as the setting sun cast shadows across his office. For him, working late was customary. Another part of the job of running a multinational sports gear corporation. As he stuffed papers into his briefcase to finish up for the day, his eyes drifted to one of his most prized possessions sitting on his desk; the eyepiece of a mask.

Handed down to him by his father. It was said to contain great power that would allow its owner to see into the future. Such a story had no truth to it, but it served as a reminder to Hanzo to "Keep his eyes on the future."

That was what his father had told him anyway and they were words that Hanzo lived by. As a family heirloom, Hanzo considered the artifact a lucky charm of sorts. But not even such charm could offer protection, as Hanzo was struck from behind by a mysterious assailant, rendering him unconscious.

A table set for three, with only two people seated. This was a scene that Kubo was quite acquainted with. Tonight, the usual quiet atmosphere made waiting for his mother's confrontation about the trouble he caused that day all the more agonizing.

"I spoke with Mrs. Kameyo today. She confiscated this." Sariatu pulled out Kubo's drawing from the morning's class and held it out for him to see. "She also said you pushed a girl off her chair to get it from her." Sariatu finished with an accusing tone that sounded both angry and disappointed.

"I didn't push her off! She lost her balance and she snatched it from me!" Kubo tried to explain, but his mother had other concerns.

"You shouldn't have drawn that picture in the first place! I told you to keep your magic a secret. You know what would happen if people discovered your secret." Sariatu anxiously reminded him.

As descendants of gods from the heavens, Sariatu and Kubo possessed magic that few mortals could understand. The people of their modern world would surely fear them and call for their destruction or succumb to temptation and seek their power for themselves.

"They'd take me away and I'd never see you again. I know, I know." Kubo recited the words repeated to him so many times. The familiar words repeated back making his mother fall silent.

"Mother, when is father coming home? He's very late." Kubo broke the silence with the subject of his absent father. Kubo was used to dinners with only his mother present and his father's habit of arriving late, but now that it seemed like he wouldn't return at all, Kubo was beginning to worry.

"You know how busy your father can be sometimes. Don't worry, he'll be home soon." Sariatu tried to reassure her son.

"That's what you said yesterday." Kubo muttered under his breath. His mother's words clearly having little effect.

Near total darkness. That was the sight that Hanzo was greeted with after waking from a period of unconsciousness that had lasted hours. With the meagre guidance of starlight and lighting from nearby skyscrapers, Hanzo made it across the end of the office and felt a light switch by the door frame.

Turning the lights on, and turning around, Hanzo noticed a large desk in the centre of the room.

"What… is this place?" Hanzo asked, his mind a total blank.

After seeing Kubo and the Two Strings I wanted a way for the Kubo family to be together and still be alive. So I came up with the concept of a modern day universe with the Kubo cast, a new villain but with a familiar three-part quest.