Here I am again because I have no emotional control whatsoever, pls don't judge me lol The chapter' art has been published and u can see it by clicking here: pinkkitsu/art/Chapter-10-Medea-s-Mask-856801973 It's basically an illustration regarding the mask' design (I spent 5 hours drawing, my back is sore ;-; ) for the mission.

BTW KURAPIKA IS GREAT AT GIVING ADVICES TO OTHERS, BUT HIS OWN LIFE IS A MESS GO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST BOO, I'M BEGGINFGYOU. P.S.: There isn't a day that goes by that I don't imagine this boy with his hair in a ponytail :')

Enjoy peace while the plot still allows it ;)

See you soon!

— Cherry

Replies to your reviews:

JasperControlsMyEmotions: Thank you very much! It means the world to me to hear that, it means that I'm doing a great job :') I hope I can continue to please you guys with this story :3

illysillymilly: You have no idea of how complicated it was for me to create her whole story, including her blood heritage (which is only gonna be mentioned later btw), it's too complex and I can't simply throw that much info in a single chapter for you guys bc: 1- it's impossible to understand all those aspects like that and 2- it'd be incoherent af, like, how come do u simply mention all of this and do nothing about it? Where's the mystery, the drama, the romance? Idk about you, but I like well-developed stories sooo XD

I'm glad you're enjoying the fanfic, it makes me super happy.

Also, heck yeah, give Alluka and Killua a nice older sister figure that won't f them up for once (tho she's also really crazy)! THEY NEED LOVE AND HUGS, GIVE THEM HUGS FFS!

Hope you'll also like the next chapters :3

"So you're telling me I'm banned from any mission for six months?" Medea's voice was filled with shock and her mouth was slightly open as she looked at the figure on the other side of the video call.

"It was the best I could do, Lasym's company and his partners kind of demanded it as a form of punishment." Kurapika explained as he walked down a street with trees full of orange and yellow leaves. His blonde hair was partially up in a ponytail and some strands escaped from the sides of his face, which made him look even paler amid the warm tones of his scarf and the vibrant vegetation. One piece of his black headset hung free inside his coat so he'd be able to keep an eye on what was happening around him while they talked. "They wanted you to be taken to jail until your innocence, or guilt according to them, was proven, but the President said that was too much and that you had been as victimized as Evanor. It was a way to please Greeks and Trojans…"

She sighed realizing that she had no way to change her situation for now. "Thank you for trying to help me Kurapika, really, I'd be having emotional crises every day without you." She confessed as she took her milkshake's straw to her lips. "Seriously, I owe you a million favors after this."

He laughed, a low, contagious sound, and shook his head. "Don't mention it, you saved me a lot of effort in Konneticot, it's a way to stay even." He turned to the screen, his once so serious gray eyes now seemed to carry a softness that made Medea gulp forcefully. "Dhea, even if we've known each other a short time, I already consider you my friend. I couldn't let you handle it alone. " He cleared his throat and looked back at the path ahead. "How's the trip going?"

"Okay, for now at least. I solved part of what I needed to, but now I'm in Padokea to finish the rest." He frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I need to deliver something to a friend and I'm only getting that item here in Dentora." She explained with a sigh.

"Dentora, hm? I was there once with Gon and Leorio." He made a funny face and shook his head. "Nice place, but what we went through to rescue Killua was tiring enough to make me want to never step foot there again." She arched an eyebrow.

"Rescue Killua?" he kept drinking strawberry milkshake.

"Yeah, you don't know? Both Alluka and him are part of the Zoldyck family, the owners of the Kukuroo Mountain." Medea choked immediately, coughing frantically and making Kurapika stare at her through the screen. "Medea, what's wrong? Take a deep breath and raise your head. Yes, that way." Gradually, she took her hand to her lips and gave a few more coughs before recovering completely. "What happened?"

She laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of her head. "Nothing, never mind." She attempted to evade the questions, and drank the content in the plastic cup again.

"Medea, you don't really expect me to not comment on it, do you? Spit it out."

Medea liked Kurapika, he had a golden heart and was great to be around, even though he was a little too suspicious sometimes and seemed to analyze her when they talked. The problem was that she only knew him for two months, could she trust him enough to discuss her religion? It was true that he'd kept a secret about her "part-time job" and what had occurred in the Emerald Kaniv, but there was a whole norm of not being able to talk about what was going on inside with non"members, there was even the risk of losing her caste privileges if they found out. 'If they find out.' said the voice inside her head, stirring her to commit something forbidden.

No, she wouldn't tell him anything, it was safer for both of them if she kept quiet and said that she was surprised by the news that her two guests were part of the most feared assassin family – not that she wasn't actually shocked by it, she'd talk to those two about it later. She was determined not to say anything, her lips were sealed... That is, until she saw those beautiful gray eyes staring at her with almost feline curiosity. Yeah, she really had a soft spot for handsome men. And you know what? It wasn't like the Order really cared about that, right? It was just an exchange of information between friends, nothing too serious! Completely understandable when one saw that beautiful face and the way he smirked softly, waiting for the answer.

"Kura, for heaven's sake, you have to swear you'll keep this secret." She told him while she got more comfortable on the soft hotel bed. "Pinky promise?" She raised her pinky as if she were in fact to seal the promise.

He rolled his eyes still smiling. "It must be serious then... All right, Miss Lanfort, I pinky promise." He repeated the act and touched the screen with his finger, being imitated by her. "Now start talking."

"Have you ever heard of the Order Of The Golden Moon?" He shook his head. "It's a small religion of the Azian continent that preaches the obtaining of knowledge, I'm part of it and my position is that of Apprentice." Kurapika nodded, showing that he was attentive while entering a bakery. "I was recently chosen to be promoted within the castes and become a Minor Priestess, which is a great honor in our community."

"Congratulations, Dhea!" He said, but something in his voice sounded different. Maybe it was the fact that he was surrounded by people, probably he wanted to stay discreet so she didn't care much.

"Thank you, it's very important to me!" The blond took a pack of buns and some brownies and took them to the cashier. "Anyway, I was there receiving the guidance of the High Priestess, our leader, and she gave me a task to fulfill." He finished paying, took the bag and walked back through the streets that were now darker due to the time. "The Moon chose me to take Tchingsen's Scroll, which happens to be part of the Zoldyck family's collection."

He stopped abruptly in the middle of the pedestrian lane, looking at her in shock and his mouth opened to say something that got lost in the way between his brain and his lips. A car honked loudly and he apologized briefly before he walked across the street, where he frowned at her.

"Are you crazy?!" His face began to turn red from nervous and she held on not to laugh. "What's wrong with you?!"

"Mostly abandonment and mommy issues, but that's not the point." Responded the woman.

"Medea, you can't break into Zoldyck Mansion, steal what you want from there and hope nothing goes wrong." He ran his hand through his face exasperatedly. "I was in there. Those people aren't normal!"

"I trust my abilities, Kurapika." She declared.

"Do you think this is a joke? Ask Killua or Alluka what happened to them in the time they spent with their family." His voice was serious and cold. "Gon, Leorio and I could have died in there, you know?"

"But you're all thriving right now." She argued. "Seriously, I know how to take care of myself, I've been a Hunter for longer than you and I'm not dead yet."

He snorted and waved his hand as if he didn't care. "Okay, if you die I'm not going to your funeral, I don't care." He said with a deep crease between his brows. "You're suicidal."

Medea sarcastically rolled her eyes. "Wanna bet that I'll stay alive?" She retorted, her smile full of malice.

"How can you even bet on something like that?"

"Life is a gambling game dear, either you accept it, or you lose everything." Medea stated. "If you're right and I do die, I'll leave a handwritten letter with all the information about the day of Lasym's murder for you, from when I woke up to the moment I went to the hospital. My thoughts will be included, obviously." She offered. "That way you'll have more details that can help you notice something that I didn't even realize, how about it?" Medea was not dumb to talk much before she was sure of her fate, it would be stupid.

"...And what happens if I'm wrong and you survive?" He took a key from inside his pocket and entered through a metal door that looked like it belonged to a hotel.

"You're going to apologize for not believing me." the blond rolled his eyes and laughed sarcastically as he walked into the elevator. "Have we got a deal?"

"All right, I'll do it. When is the deadline for the Scroll's delivery?"

"In three days, but I intend to get it tomorrow." The man sighed, visibly stressed.

"You're underestimating that family, Dhea."

"Maybe… But nothing is more important to me than my career and my beliefs, I'm willing to die for them."

"You still have time to give up." He got out of the elevator and yawned, taking a hand to his lips to cover them.

"I'm not going to. You, on the other hand, should give up not sleeping and rest at once."

He sighed and opened the door to the apartment. "Okay, I'll go to sleep a little after I take my shower and eat. Go write your will soon." He provoked, making her laugh.

"We'll see... Just one thing before you hang up." The man took off the scarf and the dark coat he wore, putting them on the table and raised his eyebrows, indicating that she could proceed. "Don't talk about it with Alluka or Killua yet. If their family is so cruel as you implied they were, those two can try to come after me and I don't want that, tell them once I'm back. Promise you will keep this secret?" He looked the other way. "Please Kurapika, I'm asking you nicely!"

"Okay, I promise, but if you don't come back by midnight tomorrow I'll tell you and we'll all be there to rescue you..." He said. " Or whatever's left of you."

"Very funny, huh? Anyway, good night Kura, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night and try not to die." He waved briefly and then hung up.

Medea looked at her reflection in the mirror. Was she rushing everything? Did she really have no chance against Killua and Alluka's family? She felt uncertainty spreading through her mind and suddenly she remembered Enoull's voice.

'You can't do it, can you?'

She shook her head and went back to drinking her strawberry milkshake – which now tasted like pure milk. She was Medea Lanfort, for crying out loud! She had survived the worst situations that life had rubbed on her face, she had become a Hunter and exceeded the expectation of everyone around her, she was an exemplary professional and didn't even use her Nen. She smiled at her own reflection, a semblance of superiority on her face. She wasn't the one who should be scared. The Zoldyck family better prepare themselves or they wouldn't know what hit them until it was too late.

Surprisingly, that area in Dentora seemed fresher and more prone to breezes than the place where Medea was staying, probably thanks to the mountain since it served as an orographic barrier for the transport of air and humidity in the region. She wore a stealthy uniform: the black sleeveless leotard was complemented by black pants, which in turn were adorned by a multi-utility belt where she carried her weapons, the black gloves covered her hands and part of her wrist so she didn't risk leaving fingerprints anywhere, her hair was stuck in a long braid and on her face was a mask that she hardly wore. It was an object made to withstand attacks, with details in blue, green and purple that reminded those of a peacock, on its sides there were two rows of multicolored beads that fell gracefully over her shoulders and had a peacock's feather on the tips.

Medea was inside the tourist bus that led to the mountain, utterly quiet and serene, while she watched a group of men talk euphorically about breaking into the residence and looting everything – or even just taking a picture of one of the Zoldycks. She wanted to laugh. By the way they behaved, they had no knowledge in combat or in hiding amongst the environment; if a trained thief and Hunter with years of experience like herself had been warned that she could die on that place, she couldn't imagine what would not happen to those six. Turning to her right, her eyes met the imposing form of the sleeping volcano, that was taller than the clouds themselves and gulped. From what she'd read, the Zoldyck mansion was on top of it, she truly hoped she wouldn't have to walk during the entire path or she'd get exhausted once she got there.

The tour guide began to speak, but she got off the transport before the woman could stop her and was followed by the group, the desperate cries for them to return immediately to the bus were promptly ignored. The men looked at her with disdain, probably questioning what a woman had to do in that place, until one of them finally spoke: "Do you think you can get in, sweetheart?" His voice dripped with irony.

She turned to him and shrugged. "I don't know, what do you think?" She asked in return.

"No chance, you seem too fragile for this kind of activity." He replied with a malicious smile. "With a body like that, your place is on your knees suck-"

"Good Morning, how may I help you?" Asked a man of advanced age, who had tired eyes and a calm smile, and wore a simple gatekeeper's uniform.

Medea observed the group arguing with the man, who despite giving off a false frightened impression still had control over the situation, and she knew there was something wrong going on. He handed the key to the smaller gate to the men, who soon walked victoriously towards it. The man looked at her with curiosity, gray eyebrows momentarily rising.

"You're not going in?" She giggled.

"Oh, please, you don't expect me to believe that that entrance is the correct one, do you? A family this terrifying wouldn't hire someone who'd hand over the keys to their property to the first group that tried to scare him." He seemed surprised for a minute and then smiled.

"You're right." Shouts of pain and noise from rigid things – presumably bones – breaking were heard. He just sighed. "My job is just to clean up Mike's mess."

"And that is...?"

"The family watchdog, obviously. It's him who takes care of the secondary gate." He explained. "If you don't mind it, could you tell me what you want to do here?"

"I'm a friend of Killua's." That's all she said, his voice was not clear whether that was true or not and the man squinted his eyes.

"Does the young master want you to take something for him?"

"You could say that." She gave no room for further questions and he nodded.

"You know I'm not gonna stop you from trying to get in, right?"

"Yes, your posture is too relaxed right now. The man laughed, visibly entertained.

"You're very observant, I can see why you are friends with the young master... Do you know how these huge doors work?" She shook her head. "They open according to the strength of the pushing force, the first gate weighs two tons on each side, adding four tons in total, and at each gate the total weight doubles. If you can't open any, then you're not worthy to enter the property."

"So I literally just have to open a door to get inside?" He nodded. "Alright then."

She turned to the metal gates, high and dark, with two sculptures of Dragons on the biggest door, and took a deep breath. 'Focus Medea, you can do it.' she assured herself, and closed her violet eyes as she approached them, gloved hands touching the smooth surface gently. Inhale. Exhale. She proceeded to try to push the gate open. She felt her fingertips tingle, as if something was escaping from her against her will, almost as if she was connecting with the gates themselves. The woman heard whispers around her, but ignored them since they weren't intelligible; they seemed more like hisses than anything else. Sweat began to drip under her mask, her arms no longer had the same strength as when she first touched the objects, and her legs were struggling to stand as her support.

Medea realized that she wouldn't be able to do that with her strength alone, she'd have to use her Nen. Sighing, she activated her Ren, expanding and intensifying her aura as much as possible while continuing to push. She hated the feeling of pure power surrounding her, it was uncomfortable, and reminded her of terrible moments, but she didn't avoid using it completely because she knew she might need it at some point in her journey as Hunter. She was almost giving up when she heard a deafening noise of something heavy dragging against the floor until a loud crackling noise echoed and she opened her eyes. The first two gates were open. She had opened twelve tons. She sighed satisfied and turned to the man, who seemed impressed by the result.

"Thank you so much for your help, Mister...?" He stared at the woman, smiling once again.

"Zebro. And you are?"

"I don't think I can tell you that. It was good to meet you though, see you around Sir!"

She waved amicably and passed through the portal, feeling a strong breeze envelop her body and rattle the tree branches in the private forest. She was inside the Zoldyck property. Step one was complete. On her right side, she felt a breath of hot air and turned around, feeling her body immediately go still upon seeing the creature next to her. A huge hound with thick purple fur and long snout watched and sniffed her attentively, as if trying to check whether she would serve as a good snack or not. So that was Mike. He just laid down on the floor, black eyes glued to the woman as he laid his face on his forelegs. Medea didn't know if she should run or if stay still, which of those options seemed safer? Carefully, she turned to the original trail and stepped forward slowly to notice his reaction, but he didn't seem to care, and she continued walking until he was out of sight.

She'd never seen an animal like that, so attentive to what was happening, it was almost as if he had a human consciousness, it was completely bizarre. Activating her In, she climbed the nearest tree and began jumping from branch to branch in an attempt to go unnoticed by anyone in the vicinity. Her movements were agile and silent like a shadow when she was hunting her targets, but when she used that Nen technique she was just like a snake: cautious and lethal. It wasn't like she liked to kill, far from it, but she'd do it if it meant having success on her missions.

From afar, she saw a teenager standing between two stone walls in the middle of the trail she was following. She wore a dark blue tuxedo and held a cane safely, she didn't look older than 15. She was probably one of the local butler apprentices, but was she strong enough to be taking care of that passage? 'Why do you see her as someone unable to defend herself? You had already murdered dozens of people at that age.' She heard the voice in her mind state. Her internal conflict was enough for her to stumble on the wrong branch and fall lower than intended, causing unnecessary noise and making the thief curse to herself. The girl turned to hear the rustling of the leaves from where Medea had jumped, and raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Who are you and what do you think you're doing?" She inquired in a cold voice.

"I'm Killua and Alluka Zoldyck's friend." She widened her gray eyes before going back to her indifferent posture.

"I apologize, but I can't let you pass." Medea frowned, it had worked the first time, why wasn't it working now?

"Even if I'm their friend?" She repeated as she descended from the tree and landed gracefully on the unpaved road.

"Yes. Besides, you haven't identified yourself and are standing in private property, so I'm asking you to leave." The girl replied.

Medea took one hand to the hip while lifting the other to her chest, dramatically. "Look honey, I really need to get to the mansion, it's an emergency." She insisted, her voice a little sweeter and gentler than before. "Can't you make an exception for me? Killua asked me to come get something for him, he said you'd help me." Was that a blatant lie? Damn right it was, but she really didn't want to fight with the girl.

The teenager seemed conflicted for an instant before shaking her head minimally. "The answer is no." She stated. "You can either leave now, or I'll have to force you to do so."

The thief sighed as she nodded and stretched herself quickly, before proceeding to crack her knuckles and turn her neck from side to side. The apprentice butler put herself on a defensive position and put her cane between them to keep the older woman from approaching. Medea guided her hand to her belt and pulled out her chakrams, holding them deftly and positioning herself to launch them.

"Okay then, let's see if you can kick me out."

U MENTION ALLUKA AND EVERYONE HAS A STROKE ON THE KUKUROO MOUNTAIN LMAO SUCH A QUEEN

Will Medea be able to get to the mansion? Will she be able to steal the scroll she needs? Where's Illumi? To find out these and other questions, stay tuned for the next chapters~