Just Can't Get Right by Green Tea Sage

The Con Artist

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Just Can't Get Right

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Chapter One: The Con Artist

She went by Madam Kikyo, the name of her powerful miko ancestor. She had inherit Kikyo's unmatched abilities, but she was using them for absolutely no good. Well she had some good intentions. Tonight she was out on the strip, swindling dimwitted Virginia Beach tourist with the 'magic trick' she used to lower them into her domain which mysteriously changed every night. Outside of the building she occupied she left a crystal ball levitating in a pink aura above a cloth covered table. The table said "Don't touch" but mystified children and suspicious teens always fell for it. With a hidden camera and a speaker hidden inside the cloudiness of the ball, Kagome could spook bypassers by calling out their names, items they carried, places they shopped, and other visible clues on their person. There were always those skeptical of her psychic abilities, examining the vicinity for hidden cameras, but they could never find one so, they'd go on inside.

Madam Kikyo watched the camera with amusement. She had gotten a wealthy looking man to enter her closet. His tailored suit and regal features screamed dollar signs, but it'd take some convincing since he only seemed to enter out of rage. He came to confront her for her insult. He was holding a brochure with a child from Thailand on it and she had called him a filthy sex trafficker. Humiliated by stares of disgust, he stormed into the building.

Concealing her screen linked to the camera outside, she swiftly swiveled a scarf over her head, leaving only her eyes visible. The man angrily approaching slapped the crystal ball off the table, but addressed her in a calm manner after quickly taking a seat.

"Woman your facade is over. I'd advise you to leave if you wish to keep your venemous tongue."

Madam Kikyo's eyes smiled. "What facade?"

"Don't play games with me low life," the man order.

Usually, she'd be uneffected by idol threats, but the look in his eyes, those unusual colored eyes clearly said, this is not an idol threat. She'd have to come up with something quick. Surrounding herself in the same pink aura that surrounded her tricky orb outside, she spoke menacingly. This was the trick she used to fool non-believers.

"How dare you insult my abilities! I am Madam Kikyo, mistress of all fortunes. I can see your future. You will travel the largest ocean and meet a child that will give you a run for your money. Now leave this place or you will suffer me."

In a flash of light, Madam Kikyo vanished, leaving the man alone still sitting in his seat. Hopefully he'd fall for her fake fortune since she couldn't get his cash.

Narrowing his amber eyes he confirmed, "she got away."

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Spicy sweet smells, the taste of Asia sizzled out the kitchen of the Chinese bistro. Chicken dishes, beef with lettuce wraps, and wonton soup littered the tables. It was another busy afternoon at the popular town square restaurant and customers were getting impatient. Most of the cooks didn't make it in until later in the evening and only four waiters were avaliable at the time.

"Hi, my names Kagome and I'll be your server today. Can I start you out with some drinks?" Greeting her first table of the day, she took out a pen and order pad to await her customer's request.

"We'll all just have water today, thank you." The gentleman of the table remarked.

"Will that be with or without lemon?"

"Without."

"Okay, I'll have that out in a minute."

"Excuse me ma'am...ma'am! We've been waiting for our drinks for the last half hour. Our foods been brought out but we have no drinks. We would like our drinks now," a woman three tables over shouted.

"I apologize. I'll have them out right away." It was about to be a long day. As soon as she brought out the drinks she had to rush back and pick up another order then seat a couple more customer, and take the order of another three tables; and she'd have to do this very swifty if she wanted good tips and happy customers.

"Hey Kagome, I know he's in my section, but this man requested the raven head woman. That's you so, I assume you know this guy?" Kagome's co-worked questioned. She was a red head girl with green eyes, about her same height, and one of Kagome's good friends. She was dating a guy obssessed with Kagome which made the red head form sort of a love hate relationship with her, but of course Kagome had no real feelings for her guy, they were only friends. Kagome was the one who should really be jealous. The red head was a full time student at a local college. Do to Kagome's painful past in Japan, Kagome didn't have the benefits of going to school.

Her mother and grandfather died in a carjacking incident in Japan, leaving her to take care of her 13 year old brother. That meant dropping out of school and starting over to support her brother. She had to sell her family shrine to start a new life in America. A life in Japan wouldn't be the same with out her deceased relatives. That's why she chose to live in America. The money from the shrine was enough to get a small house in a suburban area in Virginia Beach where there would be good schools for her brother. She chose to live in Virginia Beach because it was the only place in America where she knew anyone.

"Okay, Ayame. I'll be right over."

After dropping off the drinks and taking a few more orders, Kagome approached the table Ayame pointed out. A silver haired man sat alone at the table. He looked familiar, but Kagome couldn't place him. She'd have to wait to see his face.

Taking out her pad to take his order, the man reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Kagome stared into the man's golden eyes. 'It's him.'

"I found you, Madam Kikyo."