Aiko Sumatra slowly woke up. He brown eyes fluttered open and she slowly sat up. She stretched and yawned as she became more and more awake. Aiko got up and began to get ready for the day. She brushed her mid-back length hair until it shone like black onyx. SHe then carefully put it up and secured it with a comb that had been her late mothers. She put on a pink and blue kimono with cherry blossoms on it. It was one of Aiko's favorite and it fit her small slender frame perfectly.<br/><br/>Aiko put on her shoes and went into the kitchen to help make breakfast for her family. Her two older brothers still lived at home with her and her father. Her sister lived with her husband and their six year old son. Kiko was pregnant again and she was hoping for a girl this time.<br/><br/>Breakfast was quiet and once it was finished Aiko did the dishes while her father and brothers opened the shop. Aiko got started on the treats they sold while her father made the tea. The shop had about seven tables all close to the ground. The mats were kept in good condition and made entirely out of bamboo. The shop wasn't as big as some, but it was big enough. They never had a problem with seating people and even if they did people were willing to wait.<br/><br/>Aiko finished making the food and came out to greet the customers. She smiled and greeted a customer as they entered the shop. She expected him to take a seat, but instead the man walked right up to her. She recognized him as the son of a well known man in town. The family was supposed to be very wealthy. Aiko didn't like the man though. She'd hear him bragging about himself and she found it annoying. Aiko knew what the man wanted and she was getting ready to say no. Aiko was desired by many men in the village. Apparently her beauty was stunning. Here eyes weren't too big or two small. Her lips were the perfect cupids bow and her skin was like procaine. Aiko had heard these things said about here over and over again, but she always thought people were exaggerating.<br/><br/>The man who Aiko believed was name Shen smiled widely. "Aiko I would very much like it if you were my wife." Aiko smiled, but shook her head "I'm sorry Shen, but I do not wish to marry you?" This caused Shen to get angry "why not? We'd be the best looking couple in town." Aiko frowned "I'm not interested in marrying you Shen." She got angrier and he called for her father who came running into the shop. "What is going on?" He asked confused. "Sir I wish to marry your daughter." Her father looked at Aiko with knowing eyes "if Aiko doesn't want to marry you I won't make her." Shen grew angrier and her two brothers came out to see what was going on made Shen leave by force. "This isn't the last you've seen of me. You will be my wife Aiko, whether you like it or not.<br/><br/>After the commotion had died down her father looked at the door with a frown. "We should hire someone to help protect us and the shop. I do not think that boy will stop at anything to have Akio and I do not want her hurt. The family began to discuss who they might be able to hire when a man walked into the shop. Aiko put on a smile though she was still a little upset. "Hello sir how cane I help you?"