For the KSG Writing Week - Day 4, Shizune
 Date Night
 
        I step inside the restaurant. It’s the nice kind, but not so nice as to break the bank. Her favorite kind of place. Naturally, she’s already sitting at the table, waiting for me. As I take my seat, she looks at her watch, making sure I notice.
 
        [You’re late. That will be 25 points, you know.] She gives her usual victory smirk.
 
        [Points? I don’t remember agreeing to a point system.] She leans over the table and signs back.
 
        [That’s because such things don’t require your approval. For every minute you’re late, you get five points. It’s quite simple, really.] I frown. There’s no way this can be a good thing.
 
        [And what do these points mean?] Her answer is short.
 
        [You’ll find out.] Somehow she manages to make herself look more predatory than usual.
 
        “*ahem*” The waiter standing above the table clears his throat, getting my attention. Shizune follows my gaze to look at him: a larger man, wearing the restaurant’s uniform and holding one of those ubiquitous waiter notepads. He looks expectantly to me, and then to Shizune. She stares back at him coldly, signing at me.
       
        [Hisao, please tell this ape that staring at me isn’t going to bring my hearing back.] I smile at the waiter.
 
        “Sorry, she’s deaf. I can handle her order.” He nods.
 
        “Certainly, sir. Shall we start with the wine?” I translate for Shizune.
 
        [Tell him to bring their top stock or I’m never coming back.]
 
        “The house best, please."
 
        “Very well. Have you had a chance to look over the menus?” he says after scribbling for a moment.
 
        “Not yet, we’ll need a few minutes.”
 
        With a polite bow, the waiter makes his leave. I turn my gaze back to Shizune, who’s lazily toying with her napkin.
        [Well, that was rude.] She lifts her eyebrow.
 
        [So? It’s not like anyone can hear.] I sigh as I open the menu to the first page. My goodness, these prices…I look back at the woman in front of me.
 
        [Don’t give me that. Are you taking out your stress on other people again?] She opens her own menu and pretends she didn’t see me sign.  For such a grown-up woman, she does know when to show her childish side. We sit in silence for a few more minutes until the waiter returns. I order a nice fish meal; Shizune asks for a garish plate full of fried meat and vegetables. After he leaves I continue my efforts.
 
        [You know that when I said you should reduce your course load, I meant that you shouldn’t try and take that many classes, not that you couldn’t.] Scoffing silently, she glares.
 
        [Yes, I do know that. Maybe you think I took it as some sort of challenge, but the only reason I did was because I know I need to keep pushing myself. Anything else is tantamount to suicide.]This again. Our discussion is further interrupted by the arrival of our food. Like most of our meals, there’s not much talking since it’s hard to eat and sign at the same time. We make do with small talk. As we finish, the waiter stops in, and leaves for the check once we’re done. I try one more time.
 
        [You miss her, don’t you?] This time, a resigned and almost inaudible sigh.
 
        [Of course. But Misha is a big girl. I think she’ll be fine on her own.]
 
        [Will you? I know you miss being in charge, but taking on too much like this isn’t the way to go about fixing it.] She dismisses my assertion with a wave of her hand.
 
        [More of this? You know I’m perfectly fine. I wouldn’t take on anything I didn’t know I was capable of.] I rub at my temples, then slowly exhale.
 
        [Look. I know things have changed. I know we’ve both changed. But one thing hasn’t changed.]
 
        [Oh really? And what’s that?] I take her hand in one of mine, using my free one to make the simplest sign I know.
 
        [I love you.] I release her hand as she begins to blush. [That won’t change. So if there’s ever a time where you can’t handle it on your own, I’m here.] Shizune covers her mouth and closes her eyes. I don’t see her cry often, but this is usually how she starts, so I try and stave it off. However, before I can sign anything she signs something of her own.
 
        [Thank you. And, I’m sorry. The real world is just…] Unusually for her, she pauses to find the right words. [It didn’t turn out the way I expected it to. Even though I had lots of work when we were in school, and I was constantly swamped, I’ve never been happier. Now it feels like everything is outside of my control.] I reply as the waiter deposits the check on the table.
 
        [I’d say that’s a universal constant, dear.] As I look over the check, I’m thankful for my new round of medications staving off what should have been a heart attack. Such is my life. Gesturing at the bill, I sign [I’ve got this one.]
 
        [Ooh, offering to pay the bill. That just earned you 10 more points.] While I leave a nice tip on the table, she stands from her chair.
 
        [Wait, I thought points were supposed to be a bad thing?] I reply as I come to my own feet. Another predatory grin.
 
        [Did I say that? Who knows?] My heart flutters for a moment as she links her arm with mine. Together, we leave the restaurant and head out the door.
 
        [You won’t tell me?]I ask. She smiles.
 
        [Now where would the fun in that be?]