"Where am I?" Catherine mumbled, waking up groggily. Sunlight streamed through the window.
"Why does my neck hurt?" She sat up, rubbing her neck where Shirakawa had struck her. It took a moment for her to remember what had happened.
"That jerk knocked me out!" she fumed, glaring at Shirakawa, who was still sound asleep on the bed.
'How can he sleep so peacefully after doing something so awful?' she thought, wanting to wake him up.
But as she reached out to touch him, a transparent shield appeared around him.
"What's this?" she asked, poking it curiously.
"What are you doing?" Shirakawa's voice startled her.
"I'm just trying to figure out how this thing works," she said, embarrassed at being caught.
"It only appears when someone has ill intentions," Shirakawa explained, sitting up. The shield disappeared.
"I have ill intentions towards you? Why did you knock me out and leave me to sleep on the floor?" Catherine demanded.
"Yesterday? It's already morning? I missed the entire night! What a waste," Shirakawa lamented, annoyed that he had slept so soundly. It must have been that comfortable bed.
"Hmph. Serves you right for making me sleep on the cold, hard floor," Catherine huffed.
"You looked pretty comfortable to me," Shirakawa said, smirking at the drool marks on her face.
Catherine blushed and quickly turned away to clean herself up. She hadn't slept so peacefully in days, constantly on edge. But for some reason, even though she had been knocked out, she felt safe and secure.
Shirakawa got off the bed, pushing past Catherine to head to the bathroom. He hadn't relieved himself in over ten hours and needed a shower.
He was impressed by the bathroom's modern facilities. The Pirate World's technology seemed quite advanced.
Hearing the water running, Catherine blushed. 'Should I peek?' The thought shocked even her.
'No, Catherine, you're a lady. Even if he's handsome, you can't do that. Don't be tempted by his body!' She mentally scolded herself, trying to banish the inappropriate thoughts.
Shirakawa's shower was quick. He emerged a few minutes later, likely having already bathed the night before.
"I'm going to shower too. Don't peek," Catherine said as they passed each other.
"Do you think I'm like you?" Shirakawa retorted, sitting back on the bed.
'How does he know what I'm thinking?' Catherine wondered, flustered. She maintained her composure until she was safely inside the bathroom, then her heart started racing.
'He's right. I did think about peeking,' she admitted to herself.
Meanwhile, Shirakawa had seen her reaction in the mirror.
'Oh no, she really was going to peek!' He panicked.
'No, I can't give in. I need to be a gentleman,' he thought, resolutely walking back towards the door. But then he stopped.
'She might not have good intentions, but I can't stoop to her level,' he reasoned, returning to the bed and getting dressed.
Catherine had also seen Shirakawa's reflection in the mirror. She had been about to yell at him, but he had retreated just in time.
'Coward,' she thought, feeling a strange sense of disappointment.
She admired her own reflection in the mirror. 'If only...' she thought, then shook her head, banishing the thought.
Finally, Catherine emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Her face was flushed, and her hair was damp. Shirakawa's heart skipped a beat.
"What are you staring at?" she asked shyly.
"Oh, sorry," Shirakawa said, quickly leaving the room. "Get dressed. We should be leaving soon."
"Okay. Thank you," Catherine said softly.
"You're welcome."
Shirakawa closed the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily.
'That woman is shameless! Trying to seduce me! If I wasn't so strong-willed, I might have fallen for it,' he thought, his heart still racing. 'She's trying to keep me here with her tricks, so I won't go back to sea.'
He couldn't let himself be swayed by his emotions. He was a responsible person and wouldn't break a girl's heart.
'But I'm the Silver King now. I'm immortal. My appearance won't change, but hers will,' he realized with a pang of sadness. 'Am I doomed to be single forever?'
'No! I won't let that happen!' he thought determinedly. 'There are so many Devil Fruits in this world, some with strange powers. Maybe there's one that grants eternal youth.'
He went to Shanks and Buggy's room, ready to wake them up. They wouldn't wake up on their own.
He knocked on the door, but there was no response.
'Do I have to resort to violence?' he wondered.
He kicked the door, sending it flying open.