Franko

Siberian Husky

“Father? Where is father?”

14 year old Illumi burst through the rooms of the Zoldyck mansion with tears threatening to roll down his eyes, shoving the family butler Mr. Gotoh aside who was trying to stop him from entering his father’s room…

“Hey Illumi.. what do you think?”

“Father! It is very lovely. Is it a boy or a girl?” An indifferent Illumi had a questioning look on his face while waiting for an answer from Silva.

“It’s a girl, Illumi. And you may give her whatever name you like.” Silva smiled at his eldest son. Illumi held the little puppy at arm's length.

“I will call it Franko.”

“Take good care of it, son.”

From that day onto the following 4 months, Illumi grew attached to the little grey eyed, Siberian Husky which grew to stand almost as tall as Illumi on her back legs after just a few months, she always stayed with Illumi and followed him wherever he went.

Illumi was irritated by the puppy’s presence around him for the first month, following him around like his shadow and a few times he even wanted to toss her out of the Zoldyck estate, but even this cold hearted young assassin felt sorry looking at that puppy in the eyes..

“Fiiine. You get to stay another day. Do not disturb me WHAT. SO. EVER.”

Franko barked and wagged her tail, jumping on Illumi’s bed where he lay, she stretched her paws and rested her head down, Illumi looked at her with raised brows..

“I see you’ve learned a trick! Good girl.” He said indifferently, staring at the dog who was staring back, he patted her head a few times and then turned to his side to fall asleep.

That stayed as the night ritual for the happy Franko and the emotionally detached Illumi.

One day, Illumi awoke feeling an emptiness by his side, thinking everything was fine, he candidly rose from his bed and walked to his bathroom. He showered. Brushed his teeth and got dressed to go downstairs.

By that time, his stomach was flipping and turning, just yesterday morning at the same time, he was feeling his dog at his feet at the breakfast table, but he didn’t feel that today.

“Where is Franko?” He spoke to one of the maids

“I’m sorry, master Illumi, I do not know.” and he only got a sorry smile from her.

He sat there, trying to down his breakfast, barely managing to bite down on the toast or sip his tea.

Illumi had enough of this, he stood up and walked to his mother’s chambers, knocking on her door before she granted him permission to enter.

“Where is Franko?”

“Oh my dear Illumi, you’ve finally passed the test! You will be a great leader.”

“What do you mean?” He frowned.

“I mean, the dog is no longer here.”

“Where is she?” His heart sank.

“You might want to ask your father that, I don’t know my dear young leader.” She said with a rather disturbing smile.

“Father? Where is father?” he yelled at Gotoh.

“I’m sorry sir, he’s busy.”

Illumi shoved the family butler aside and barged into his father’s chamber.

Sitting down on his chair, there was the silver haired, head of the Zoldyck family, Silva Zoldyck with all his might, he looked directly into Illumi’s eyes with a smile.

Illumi never could read his father, he was a mess of neatly entangled layers that hid wounds and secrets.

“Where is she?”

“She was taken away?”

“Where?” He was on the verge of tears.

“To Mike.”

Illumi felt his world shatter, he never once realized he could grow attached to anyone and now he was having a breakdown over a dog? It wasn’t like the cold, stone hearted, emotionless assassin he was.

It couldn’t be him, and what test was his mother talking about?!

“How could you?” He held the tears back and bit down on his cries.

“To make you strong enough to be my heir, to be the next head of the Zoldyck family.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“I knew you’d say that, Illumi. You have already failed the test,”  Silva said, with an expressionless face, “Ever since the day you picked her up, that look on your face failed you. Now this should teach you not to grow attached to anyone or anything.”

“Yes, father.”

“Killua will make a great leader, don’t you think?” Silva asked with a colorless tone as his son reached for the door knob.

“Yes, father. He has great potentials and intelligence already at such a young age.” Illumi never looked back at his father as he closed the door behind him.

He kept marching forward to his upstairs bedroom, he only wanted to get there, he only wanted to take out his anger and frustration, at his father, at himself, at his life, for his dog.

The thought that maybe someday, he would have been the head of this family, scared him lifeless. In a way, he was somewhat relieved he failed his father’s test.