"Do you have a moment to spare for me, Father?" Akashi Seijūrō asked as he stood in the threshold of his father's office.
"I suppose so, if it is, as you say, only a moment," the senior Akashi said, never bothering to look up from his paperwork.
"Father, I have something to show you," Seijūrō said. Now that he'd been acknowledged, he strode into the room and handed his father the paper that he had received in the morning's mail.
Akashi senior took the missive. He efficiently noted the red and blue letterhead before his eyes scanned the body of the text.
Akashi had the content memorized and as he watched his father's eyes dance over the paper, he heard the words again:
Congratulations Mr. Akashi!
We are proud to announce that your hard work and natural skill have led us to offer you a place for the upcoming season on the starting line-up of the Los Angeles...
"A first-rate offer from a first-rate team. As is to be expected, Seijūrō.."
"Thank you, father, I am very pleased."
"As you should be," he said. "Now, tell me are you prepared for the marriage interview tonight? The Kamiya family is a very old and traditional family. I will accept nothing but your utmost attention to this matter tonight. Is that understood?" As he spoke, Akashi-sama folded the invitation and letter of intent back along the crease lines and then slipped them back into the garishly colored envelope. He placed the whole thing into the teeth of the shredder to the side of the desk.
"Yes, sir," Seijūrō answered his father, watching the red and blue confetti signify the end of his dreams of escaping across the ocean and away from his father's ultimate domination. He might have been the Emperor, but his father was God.
My thanks to nightgigjo for her editing!