I sighed. “I do, but I have no money. Once I’ve had a chance to earn some, I will, but my feet will toughen up the more I walk around barefoot. I should be fine in a week or so.”
Bokkan mimicked my stance, crossing his arms over his chest. His biceps and triceps bulged. He wore a sleeveless tunic now, but he’d been shirtless in the fighting ring earlier.
I fought the urge to stare at his corded muscles when he finally spoke. “As your host, it is my responsibility to provide for you if you have need of things.”
I shook my head. “When it comes to a roof over my head and food to eat, I could agree, but I would rather spend the money on hiring a witch to get me back home.”
“You’re getting shoes, socks, and underwear. You can either agree to go with me and select items you prefer, or I can go alone and come back with all I think you need.”
“Bokkan, it’s not necessary?—”
“I say it is.”
I scowled at him. “Since you’re talking about buying things for me, I think my say is more important.”
“You are too humble. You refuse to ask for what you need. I’m not familiar with the ways of humans, but we daemons ask for what we want and need without shame.”
“I’m not a daemon, and humans consider it rude to request things as basic as clothing from their hosts. A decent bed and meals are the only things hosts are expected to provide to their guests.”
“You are no longer in the human realm,” Bokkan argued, his arms dropping to his sides as he came toward me.
“And?”
I stood my ground as he drew closer, tilting my head back to keep my eyes on his face.
“And we do things differently here. It’s also rude to argue with your host.”
“I’m not letting you spend money on me unless it’s to send me home,” I argued, ignoring his statement.
He stared down at me in silence for a long moment, a muscle in his jaw flexing. I met his stare, refusing to back down.
“Very well,” he relented. “I will go to the shop alone. Masu will be with you in a moment to take your measurements.”
“I won’t wear anything you buy,” I shot back.
“You will.” His answer was firm.
“What are you going to do? Force me into them?”
He shook his head. “No, but I can make it so your access to other items of clothing is restricted.”
I gaped at him. “You’re saying I will either wear what you buy or be forced to walk around naked?”
He shrugged.
I scowled at him, my eyes narrowing until they were little more than slits. “I can’t believe you’re threatening me.”
“It’s not a threat. I’m offering you alternatives to the clothing you’re wearing now.”
With that statement, he turned his back on me and started walking toward the door. “Please don’t give Masu a difficult time when she comes to take your measurements. She is just trying to do her job.”
He was almost to the door when I relented. I would rather have a say in the clothing I wore than stand by my principles and end up in something he picked out that made me uncomfortable.
“Fine,fine,” I cried out, chasing after him. “I’ll go with you.”
He paused and turned back to me. “You do not have to.”
“If you’re going to shop for me no matter what I say, I want some input in the clothing you purchase. Otherwise, I’ll end up in dresses or some other bullshit I hate.”
