17. The Shadow Knows
Back in the Capital, he briefly stopped at her father's house. Its defense was, for the most part, unchanged. Some additional soldiers had been added. They would be useless, of course, against what they were likely to face, but it was nice to see some effort had been made. Lucia was asleep, hopefully for a long time, and that was for the best, too. She had need of rest, and he had plenty to do while he could still leave her relatively unguarded. The new job he had seen in the Schedule had been listed to be completed on Friday, and it was doubtful any attempt would be made on her until that one was finished.
It was now well after midnight on Thursday morning, a perfect time for some second-story work at the Ministry of the Interior. Then he could spend the day tailing various individuals of interest and reacquainting himself with the current bêtes noires of Padokia's political world. By Friday things should be much clearer and he should be able to devise a workable plan or two. He also would, of course, add into the mix what he could get from his client.
Illumi had been thinking about her, all the way back to the Capital. He had come to a conclusion of sorts about why he was so eager to seek out and take on this risky assignment. Leaving aside the slight possibility that he was looking to test himself head to head against the best in his field, an idea he had already dismissed, as it was his style to pit strength against weakness and to avoid direct confrontation whenever possible (and since he knew his own abilities and those of his probable opponent down to the smallest detail, he could run simulated fights in his mind any time he wished, which he would invariably lose); he was left with the fact that he wanted to protect her. Something about her attracted and called to him. And Illumi thought he knew what it was.
There were two kinds of people living in the world, Illumi believed. No, not Zaoldyeck and others, because these two types existed both on and off Kukuru Mountain, but rather: those that went ahead with the light, and those that followed behind them in the shadows. These light bearers were few in number, but although they didn't think about them, or really even know or care they were there, each of them gave off enough radiance for many, many shadow dwellers.
Killua was one. That was why Illumi had always known he would be the Zaoldyeck heir. How could it not be Killu, who shone and sparkled like a diamond as he boldly, if foolishly, strode out to make his own path in life? And Hisoka, the fantastical magician; Illumi had sought just to stand nearby and bask in the heat and brilliance of that incandescent character. Oh yes, Illumi knew he was drawn to these impetuous, uncaring, incautious individuals.
Not that Illumi had any illusions about which kind of person he was. He wasn't even certain he would want to be one of them if he could. It would mean giving up too much. It was too risky. He was content to support them from the shadows as best he could, to save them from themselves. As Illumi had done to try to protect Killua, training him to consider his safety when facing an adversary, and also physically implanting in his brain a governor on his impetuousness, even as Illumi had lied to him (for his own good of course), telling him he contained only darkness. Hisoka was so strong; he didn't need anybody's help, although Illumi was gratified to have been asked, once. But Lucia…
She was one of them; he knew that. He had observed those gathered around her at that Victory party, how they hung on to her. And if he thought back, he remembered how her speaking voice had been impossible for him to ignore, and how she was virtually the only non-fictional girl he had ever heard Milluki mention. A radiant personality, as he had described Gon to Killua, without conscious effort on her part, she acquired followers and likely didn't even concern herself with them. But unlike the others of her kind that Illumi had known, Lucia was without any defense against what she would be facing. Killua had his training, Hisoka had his strength, but all Lucia had between herself and certain destruction was Illumi, if he chose to put himself there.
And Illumi had decided he would. He would prevent that light from being extinguished. Everyone knows, without light, shadows can't even exist.
