July 21:

York New City was surprisingly quiet that day. Well, the place we were living in was almost always quiet. But, that day, it was silent enough for me to hear my own blood rushing.

"Hou'Mei~! There's someone here to see you~!" Oro called to me. I grumbled.

"Can't they wait?" I asked.

Then the doors to my office/dojo/thing were thrown open. "... I'll take that as a no."

There were four men. There was a short black haired one, and taller but still short blond one, an ever taller and huge guy with scars, and some dude with no eyebrows. What in the fuck..?

"You. Are you the "Elementalist"?" the shortest one asked. Well, it was more of a growl, but who cares.

"... Who's askin, short-stuff?" I said. The blond suppressed a laugh. Eyebrow-less did laugh. Shorty snarled at me.

"I am Franklin. The one you just called short is Feitan," huge and scary said. Interesting.

"Oh, and I'm Shalnark!" the blond said. Shalnark… Name rang a few bells. Couldn't place why though.

Eyebrow-less scowled. "I'm Phinks…" he muttered. Hm… I liked my nicknames better. But, Shalnark didn't have one, so his name would have to do.

"Cool. Now then. I'm not tellin you if I'm the Elementalist or not. That fucker's head is worth thousands of Jenny to just about all bounty hunters. If I was said person, I'd be keeping my mouth shut. And, even if I wasn't, I'd be keeping my mouth shut. I'm not stupid."

I was getting simultaneous glares. "You don't understand. We are not people you want to make enemies of," Short-stuff said. I gave him an even sort of look. Egotistical little fucker.

"I've taken on worse."

"I doubt it. Do you know who the Phantom Troupe are?" Franklin, the most gentlemanly of everyone there, said.

I connected the dots. Shit. Shit, fuck, fucking shit, I'm being glared at by four Phantom Troupe members. Shiiiiiit… "... Oh, for fuck's sake. Since when was I a goddamn target for the Phantom Troupe?"

Shorty looked smug, from what I could see of his face. Damn bandana. Franklin looked somewhat pleased. Eyebrow-less grinned. That fucker. Shalnark just looked at me apologetically. "So, you ARE the Elementalist, then?" Phinksy asked. Hehe. I love nicknames.

"... Well, ya got me. What the hell do ya want?"

"We would like to recruit you," Franklin said. I stared. Huh? What? Since when?

"... And why would this benefit me? I already have a good life right where I am." Shorty glared at me. How scary.

"Well… You could either join us or we could just kill you," Phinksy said. I frowned.

"Sorry, not allowed. No killing me."

"Then join us."

"And if I say no?"

"Then die."

"But I just said y'can't kill me."

"Then join us."

"But I don't really want to."

"Then die."

"But you can't kill me."

"Then join us."

"But I don't wa-"

"ENOUGH ALREADY," Feitan screeched. Phinksy started laughing, like everyone but Feitan did. I didn't though. Didn't feel like pissing off the only person in the room who was more than willing to end my life. I could see it in his eyes, his aura, and I could just smell it. My animal nose always helped me.
"Alright, alright, stop. Please," I said, sighing. I needed to calm "Mister Short and Angry" down. Feitan seemed to calm slightly down. "Now, to be perfectly honest, I'm not interested in the offer. I'm really not. But, I can tell that just about everyone here, save for Shalnark, is perfectly willing to kill me right now. So, let me talk it over with my people, alright? But, before that, I have a question."

Feitan was getting impatient again. "What." His voice was getting more and more slurred. Huh.

"How the hell do you guys even have a clue about our Nen types? I mean, honestly. It's not like we go around showing it off or anything."

Feitan and Phinksy shared a sly little look. "Do you know of a guy named Hisoka?"

I froze. Then snarled. "That fucker. That little clown fucker. I shoulda killed him and that Pinhead when I had the chance.."

Feitan kinda stopped breathing at "Clown fucker" and started shaking at "Pinhead". I got a little worried. Everyone else did too. "Hey.. Feitan? You okay, dude? Not having a seizure are you?" Phinksy asked, poking him. Then I heard it. The slightest sound of laughter. He was laughing. Holy shit.

Everyone else stared in amazement. Then Shalnark started laughing too. Then it traveled to Big and Bad Franklin, then to Phinksy. Well damn. I suppose I am one amusing motherfucker.

Then Hano poked his head in, ears laid flat. I sniffed at him. He backed out.

After they all stopped laughing, I was already dozing off. Then Fei-Fei decided to get my attention. I opened my eyes to a blade under my throat. I wasn't impressed.

"Now… Is that any way to treat someone you want to recruit, Troupe Member?" I said, bored. Fei-Fei frowned at me. I think. Couldn't really see.

"Will you join us? If you had the time to sleep, you had the time to think it over."

… Damn, he isn't any fun. I apparently can't have a cat nap. "Let me show you something first." I sat up straight. They all backed up a few paces. Bully for them. I opened my palm toward the sky, then curled my hand into a claw. Tapping my thumb to my other fingers in order from index to pinkie, I opened my palm again. They watched intently. I gave them a small smile. They all relaxed. Then the fire roared into life in the palm of my hand, seemingly hot enough and large enough to melt my hand off. They all jumped backwards as it took shape. The head of a lion roared in my hand.

"Now then, boys… This. This is the Fire Elemental."

Hisoka: Helloo~!
... Go away, clown. Ye be unwelcome here.
Rilo: I second this. Away. Go there.
Hisoka: No.
... Dammit. Illumi! Get him away from here!
Illumi: ...
... Fine then. Tanis, Hano! Haul this clown outta here!
Tanis: Fine, fine.
Hano: *Just rolls his eyes and helps drag him out*
Whoot. Now. Anyway. Review. Please. This has already become like a life source. XD Stupid, evil little site.
Rilo: Bye bye~ I give cookies to reviewers! *Throws cookies at people*