Darling in the FranXX: The Reaper Squadron
Chapter 19: The 9's and Children
"Doesn't that hurt?" Ikuno asked.
Zero Two was out in the backyard filing her horns.
"Not really." She replied as she looked in the mirror that Ikuno was holding before nodding, satisfied.
"Miku, I'm ready!" She called.
Miku walked up holding a small crown.
"Ta-da!" she said, and placed the crown on Zero Two's head, covering her horns.
"How's it look?" Zero Two asked.
"Perfect. I'm sure Hiro will love it too." Miku said.
Havana, who had just walked outside to see what was going on, also added her input.
"It looks lovely, dear."
Havana felt a chill run down her spine as Zorome burst through the door leading out back.
"Guys, we got a problem." Zorome said.
…
In the foyer, Reaper and the rest of Reaper Alpha were standing in front of the stairs glaring at the 9's who were standing in the door. The shadows in the room were twitching and Reaper's knuckles were turning white from how hard he was restraining himself.
"Hey." Alpha said with a wave.
Havana walked behind Reaper and laid her head on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down, it worked somewhat.
"Love, who are these children?" Havana asked.
Beta scoffed as Reaper answered. "They are the 9's, Papa's elite parasites. Watch your attitude, Beta, or else I will have your head mounted on the wall." Reaper finished threateningly.
"Now, now, barbarian, Beta is merely disapproving of the actions the woman behind you is taking. Get off of him, you are being quite vulgar." Alpha chastised.
Havana quickly understood Reaper's dislike of these children. To take such an attitude with someone who was far older than they were. The nerve! Havana gently trailed a hand down Reaper's arm, calming him down enough to not kill Alpha where he stood.
"Why are you here?" Owl asked, James was currently standing with his arms wrapped around her.
Alpha's eye twitched when he saw James with his arms wrapped around Owl but continued anyway.
"To check on you, on Papa's orders."
"Papa? So, we weren't cast aside?" Goro asked.
"Of course not! In fact, Papa has been worried sick about you." Alpha replied.
"I'm sure he was." Reaper muttered to himself as most of Squad 13 gave out sighs of relief and "Thank goodness"'s.
Havana trailed an arm down Reaper's chest and whispered in his ear, "Calm, love. Calm."
A few seconds later and Havana was having to restrain herself when she heard what Beta and Gamma said.
"Anyway, this is horrible. It's no environment for children to be living in." Beta whispered to Gamma.
"Agreed, you would think that Reaper 1 would take better care of them but perhaps they don't know what they are doing." Gamma whispered back, sending a glance at Reaper and Havana.
"I don't believe we have properly meet." Alpha said looking at Havana and James.
"I'm Havana."
"And I'm James."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Are you a part of Reaper 1 as well?" Alpha asked.
"Yes, they are." Reaper said.
Alpha nodded then looked at Ichigo.
"Mind preparing some rooms for us?"
"You're staying here?" Ichigo asked, surprised.
"I said I'd taken a liking to you guys, remember." Alpha said.
This set off several alarm bells in Reaper's head. As the 9's walked past and up the stairs Reaper whispered to his squad,
"They are to go nowhere unattended, they're hiding something."
…
"Huh? All the surviving squads have been gathered in one location?" Ichigo asked as they were eating.
Since the 9's were there, Havana had made a meal that had been provided in the meal kits that they had been sent, instead of making a recipe of her own.
"Yeah, in a camp of sorts. The FranXX are being fine-tuned there as well. Well, most of them anyway." Alpha sent a glare toward Reaper and his squad who glared right back, as if daring him to call them out on it.
"I see…Why were we the only ones left out?" Ichigo asked.
"It certainly wasn't Papa's intention. Nana and Hachi should know more about it." Beta said.
Miku began to cry.
"Why are you crying?" Delta asked softly, Alpha looked at Delta in disapproval.
I'm just so relieved." Miku responded. "I was worried that we had been left here to die."
"Damn it." Reaper cursed. "We were so close to breaking the image that Papa cared for them. Now these assholes have come and repaired that image."
"You guys are surprisingly nice. Here, eat up." Zorome said trying to give Beta more food.
"I'm fine, thank you." Beta responded.
"I thought you guys were here to take Zero Two back." Ichigo said, glancing at Reaper when he let out a small growl.
Epsilon laughed. "We are not here babysitters. We are her squad members. Excuse me, former squad members, as someone else seems to have adopted her for themselves." Epsilon quickly corrected himself when he saw the glare Zero Two was sending him from Hiro's lap with Reaper Alpha.
Alpha sent a glare toward Epsilon before looking at Zero Two.
…
Flashback
Zero Two, Epsilon, and Alpha were standing in the woods just outside the manor.
"How long are you planning on playing human, Iota?" Alpha asks. "You know that you will never be like them. They certainly are a unique squad, but they are hopelessly imperfect. Reaper 1, even more so."
"They prefer to be called Reaper Alpha, and my name is Zero Two." She replied.
"So quick to defend a squad you barely know. You forget what you are. They are fundamentally different from you and us, Iota."
"And what is wrong with that?" A voice said, and Reaper and Havana walked out of the forest toward their positions.
"From where I'm standing, it seems that you are imperfect. So, focused on achieving perfection that you fail to realize that such a thing is impossible to achieve. Imperfection is something that needs to be embraced, as it is what makes us all unique." Havana said.
"Imperfection is a curse. Something that inhibits the operation of a society." Alpha said.
"And you know better?" Reaper challenged.
"And you don't? All you know is a flawed system that ultimately would have failed had Papa not stepped in and saved the failing society." Alpha countered.
"And would that have happened if your Papa had never poked his nose into something he should not have? You claim that Zero Two is one of you, but she has more in common with us 'imperfects' than she does with you. Begone Alpha and leave with the knowledge that Zero Two no longer belongs to you, but to us." Havana said.
Alpha's eye twitched before he turned and walked away. Epsilon bowed to them.
"I apologize for Alpha's behavior. His dislike of you has gotten the better of him it seems." Epsilon said.
"Go Ep and assuage your squad leader's injured pride." Reaper said, tiredly.
"I wish you luck with your new squad Zero Two." Epsilon said before walking away.
'Ep?' Epsilon wondered as he was walking away.
Flashback End
…
That night, Hiro and Zero Two were in her room, Zero Two was drawing several photos while Hiro watched. Zero Two began to stare into the candle lighting the room when Hiro grabbed her attention.
"Zero Two…What's that?" Hiro asked staring at her flower headband.
"Huh? Oh, Miku made it for me." She replied.
"Wow."
"Don't stare, please."
"It looks great on you."
"On second thought, you can stare." She said shyly.
She then ran her hands along the horns on Hiro's head.
"I've drastically altered your destiny, haven't I?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
The two touched horns and Hiro felt Zero Two's feelings for him rush into his mind, and the same happened for Zero Two. The two then leaned forward and kissed each other.
…
Theta watched the two kiss through a crack in the door. She huffed quietly and continued down the hallway. Alpha was not going to be happy when he heard this. She was so lost in thought she did not notice Kokoro coming around the corner until it was too late. She bumped into Kokoro and caused her to start falling, Theta quickly rushed forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Y-Yes. Thank you." Kokoro replied shakily. "What are you doing out so late?"
"Exploring. Your manor is set up differently from the others so I was looking about to see what's different. Don't tell the others ok?"
"Understood." Kokoro said and bowed. "Have a good night."
"One more thing, is it normal for Reaper 1's wing of the manor to be locked?" Theta asked.
Kokoro looked at her confused. "Yes, Reaper locks it when he retires for the night. Why do you want to go there?"
"Exploring." Was her response, she then turned and walked away.
Kokoro watched her until she disappeared around the corner. This was worrying, why would a 9 want to explore Reaper Alpha's wing? She would need to tell Reaper in the morning that they were poking around. Kokoro then walked down the hallway to her room, unaware of the eyes watch from the shadows. The eyes looked down on the floor and saw a book, it was wrapped in shadow before disappearing, the eyes vanishing soon after.
…
The next morning Kokoro was up a little while after Reaper and his squad were up. She got dressed and went down the stairs to talk to Reaper about what happened last night. When she got to the dining room, however, Reaper was nowhere to be found. Entering the kitchen, Kokoro found Havana making one of her recipes while humming a tune.
"Havana, where is Reaper?" Kokoro asked.
"Oh! Good morning Kokoro. I didn't expect you to be up this early. Reaper went out to the lake to meditate for a while. Why?" Havana asked.
"Something happened last night that concerns me."
"Why don't you tell me about it while I teach you this recipe."
"What are you making this morning?"
"French toast, omelets and hash browns."
…
"That is concerning. It's one thing to be exploring, but it is quite another to be invading our privacy. I'll make sure that the door is warded so that they cannot enter our wing." Havana said.
"That's not the only concerning thing." Owl said.
The other girls filed into the kitchen and closed the door and soundproofed the room.
"What's going on?"
"We need to have a conversation about this." Owl said, holding up a book titled Your First Childbirth.
When Havana's eyes landed on the book they widened, and she turned to face Kokoro, placing her hands on her shoulders.
"Please tell me you haven't put anything you have read in that book into practice." Havana begged.
"N-No." she responded.
"Thank goodness." Havana muttered to herself. "I am not ready to be a grandmother yet."
Kokoro looked so confused.
"I can tell you have many questions. We will answer them but let me start out with this, everything in this book is a banned subject. Just having this book in your possession puts you in extreme danger and you're lucky it was one of us who found it and not one of the 9s." Raven said.
"Now, with that out of the way, fire away Kokoro. We will answer your questions to the best of our ability." Cypress said.
…
Much later, after the girls of Reaper Alpha had their conversation with Kokoro, Theta was poking about the girl's wing. She was annoyed to discover that Reaper 1's wing was barred to her by a wall of shadow. She had a feeling that Code 556 was the reason she was blocked so she was snooping about her room to see if she could find anything. As she was checking under her pillow, Theta discovered a book. Glancing through it, she saw that it contained banned information about the creation of children. She grabbed the book and went back to Alpha, this would do nicely.
…
"Reproduction, childbirth, fetus…" Alpha said before slamming the book closed. "It's all stuff Papa hasn't taught anyone. Where did you find this Theta?"
"Code 556's bunk." She replied.
"We will deal with this is the morning." Alpha said.
…
The next morning, everyone was sitting in the living room talking. Apparently, Zorome had seen Kokoro and Mitsuru in the greenhouse getting clingy with one another. This lead everyone to assume that they were an item.
"All I did was ask if a boy and a girl getting clingy was the cool thing to do!" Zorome shouted.
"Shut up, you big baby!" Miku retorted, this sparked another one of their arguments.
Reaper and his squad chuckled as the two argued and Futoshi began panicking when he was told that the two had kissed. The laughter immediately stopped when he saw the 9s walk through the door.
"Hey guys." Alpha said, drawing everyone's attention. "Do you recognize this?" He held up the childbirth book.
Kokoro looked shocked and Reaper heard Havana give out a quiet gasp and begin glaring at Theta, who began to wither under the fire of her gaze.
"It looks like you do. Mind giving us an explanation, Code 556?" Alpha said with a false smile. "You're the one who had this, didn't you? But it's quite strange. It wouldn't have been provided in the study here, and it surely doesn't belong to you." Alpha sent a glare at Reaper Alpha thinking that they were responsible for the book's appearance. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I apologize for not telling you all." Kokoro said turning toward her squad. "I want to have a baby."
Alpha began to glare at her.
"A baby? Like an animal baby?" Miku asks.
"And how exactly do you make one?" Futoshi asks.
"Wow. But you do know that Papa has banned that, right?" Alpha said.
Squad 13 began to mutter among themselves and reaper summoned Harvester in case he had to fight the 9s off.
"You know," Kokoro began, turning back toward the 9s. "is that really such a bad thing? I mean, that's how the adults, we, and all humans were born."
"What? Papa didn't create us?" Futoshi asked in shock.
"No." Kokoro said turning to her squad again. "We are born just like any other animal. It's what we have done since ancient times."
"Not exactly accurate right now but that will change." Reaper thought.
"That's how all living things have keep their species going for thousands of years. So, well…That's why we have boys and girls. This may be selfish of me, but I want to leave a mark-leave something behind before I'm gone."
"Leave a mark?" Alpha questioned.
"Yes. We have lived our lives believing that our only purpose was to ride a FranXX into battle. But you know what, that might not be true! We could carry new lives and leave them here for the future. When I learned about that, I was so happy…"
"She finally understands. Now for the rest of them." Reaper thought, although that was quickly derailed by what came next.
"Disgusting." Alpha said, and Kokoro turned to look at him. "You are absolutely disgusting. This is ridiculous." Alpha took a step forward. "Humans have evolved and cast their reproductive functions aside in the process. Reject that, and we'll all go back to conforming to one gender. Has the thought ever crossed your mind? That gender is a pain, an annoyance that is only tolerated to operate a FranXX? That's all it is after all."
Alpha was suddenly slammed into a wall and pinned by beams of light. Gamma whistled.
"You sexiest asshole." Havana said in fury. "If you think that society would be better with just one gender, you are dead wrong."
Alpha sighed. "Humans have also cast away their tendency to be ruled by their emotions like that. Because it serves zero purpose in life. You six are a prime example of why such a society doesn't work."
Reaper then slammed into Alpha, throttling him. The light beams pinning Alpha in place dissipated and Reaper lifted Alpha by the neck.
"You have overstayed your welcome. Get out." He growled and threw Alpha out the door.
The 9s prepared to engage Reaper and his squad as they summoned their scythes.
"Enough!" A voice said.
Turning his head, Reaper saw Nana and Hachi standing at the back door.
"Nana! Hachi!"
"Reaper, Kokoro, Havana, come with us. The rest of you stay here."
…
Kokoro sat in a chair in Hachi's office while Reaper and Havana stood in the shadows against the wall.
"This is why I did not want to let the 9s in!" Nana shouted. "I knew it would be nothing but trouble!"
Hachi sighed. "Papa sent them. We couldn't just turn them away. Now that things have come to this, we ought to put an end to this test."
"That damn doctor." Reaper growled.
Nana sighed at his attitude but nodded all the same. "It was under the doctor's orders that we didn't contact you for the past month. He said it was to be Squad 13's final test. Of course, we still monitored you the entire time, in case something happened. We know what you were trying to do with Mitsuru too."
"Kokoro." Havana whispered, "We told you not to try anything."
"You want to make a baby. Something no one is allowed to speak of, much less do. You Havana, had no right to encourage her."
"We didn't encourage her. We made sure to emphasize not to try anything we explained." Havana said.
"You shouldn't have explained anything to begin with."
"But…" Kokoro said getting up and walking toward Nana. "Why do our bodies still have reproductive organs then?"
"Because they are necessary to pilot the FranXX." Nana said coldly. "That why only the children have them. That's all there is to it."
"Bullshit." Reaper and Havana thought.
"Don't think your squad is special"
"What about these feeling then? Why do we still have emotions?!" Kokoro cried.
Nana's eyes widened before she clutched her head and began to sway. Reaper and Havana rushed forward, Havana grabbing Kokoro and Reaper grabbing Nana.
"Let me go Reaper!" Nana shouted still clutching her head and Reaper let go.
"Nana…" Kokoro said.
"Shut up! Go back to the manor. We'll give you your orders in due time."
"Havana, escort her back." Reaper ordered, Havana nodded and muttered something to Kokoro and the two walked out the door.
Reaper had his hands wrapped in shadow and held them a few inches from Nana's head, he had his eyes closed.
"Reaper, what are you doing?" Hachi said sharply.
"Easing the pain." He replied before muttering, "Suppression. It's always suppression with you people."
"*Sigh* When did it start?" Hachi asked, getting up.
"A week or so ago. Watching them go about their lives made me feel so irritated, and…" Nana trailed off.
"Oh? Perhaps you have relapsed into puberty?" A voice said from the door.
Reaper turned and looked to see Alpha leaning against the door frame.
"N-No. Puberty? Me? Never!" Nana replied vehemently.
"Easy Nana, getting worked up will only make the pain worse." Reaper said, still working on muting the pain.
"Didn't you two already undergo emotional indoctrination when you were parasites? Relapsing is really bad news." Alpha said.
"Figures." Reaper muttered.
"You should have replaced her with a new Nana." Nana looked at Alpha in shock. "I hope you go back to doing your actual job from now on, instead of getting into mischief with the doctor."
Harvester thudded into the door frame an inch from Alpha's head.
"And you better get out of my sight, before I decide to take your head." Reaper growled.
"I'll be reporting this to Papa and the rest." Alpha said and disappeared from the door.
"Try something fucker, and I will beat you to a bloody pulp." Reaper threatened.
…
"Oh? So, Nana is useless now?" Dr. FranXX asked through the video feed.
"I believe continuing the test will be difficult." Hachi replied.
"I'm sure. But I gained some intriguing data. The development of humanity's original reproductive instincts…That's far beyond my expectations."
…
Meanwhile
Klaxosaur Territory
Location: Blue Volcano
Two members of APE, Lemur and Tarsier, were descending into the volcano to give their final warning to the Klaxosaur Princess, aka 001 (also known as Gaia, but they don't know that).
"This is a development that differs greatly from human civilization and culture." Lemur said. "I never expected the Klaxosaurs to still possess such technology." He said referring to the escalator they were riding on.
As they approached the throne room, Gaia could be seen sitting on a throne made of blue metal. Behind her, two giant Klaxosaur snakes resided, taking up most of the room. As Lemur and Tarsier approached they gestured for their guards to lower their weapons.
"It is a great pleasure to meet you, Princess of the Klaxosaurs." Lemur said with a small bow. "Humans and Klaxosaurs have waged war for well over a century, and you have truly shown admirable spirit and fortitude. But it is now time for this protracted war to be consigned to the history books. You no longer stand any chance of victory. Cease your resistance at once, and surrender to us." Lemur stated.
Gaia opened her mouth and let out a scream, causing everyone except Tarsier to clutch their heads in pain.
"Are these words, being sent directly to the brain? Lemur asked.
"What? What are you saying?!" Tarsier asked.
"That can't be!" Lemur said.
Tarsier the took out two Magma Energy Blades and raced toward Gaia.
"Prepare to die Princess of the Klaxosaurs!" He shouted.
"N-No…Don't…" Lemur stuttered.
Tarsier ignored him and jumped to impale the princess. He never got the chance. Just as he was about to stab her, Gaia's tentacles lashed out and impaled him through the chest, before tossing him back down to the others. The two snake Klaxosaurs moved forward and roared at the group.
"N-No, this isn't what we wanted! We only came to ask for your surrender." Lemur said before his head was taken off by the two snakes as they raced forward.
The guards with them tried to flee but they too were consumed by the snakes. Gaia stepped down from her throne, the tentacles forming back into a single tail. She stopped by Tarsier's body and flicked the faceplate off, revealing that the body was empty.
"Damn human wannabes." She said before returning to her throne.
As she sat back down the two snake Klaxosaurs withdrew behind her as a larval Klaxosaur scurried up to her. She ran her hands along its head before speaking.
"You have done well, take a break before going back out again."
The larval Klaxosaur scurried off as Gaia leaned back on her throne. "Where have you gone, my wayward children? Where have they spirited you off to H and J?
…
That night
Location: Ruins of Plantation 13
Back at the manor, the remaining pieces of Reaper Alpha and Squad 13 were waiting in the living room for Havana, Reaper and Kokoro to return.
"They sure are taking a while to get back."
"Yeah…"
"I had no idea that Kokoro had that on her mind." Miku said holding her head. "I wish she'd talked to me about it."
"Everyone has things they can't talk about." Ikuno said, sending a glance Ichigo's way.
Reaper Alpha was staring apprehensively at the door. The shadows had stopped twitching two hours ago but that hadn't calmed them down any.
"Do you think we can really make babies?" Miku asked.
"Who knows? It was something we were never taught." Zorome said.
"And if Papa didn't create us, where did we come from?" Goro asked.
"Again, how are we supposed to know!" Zorome shouted.
"What do you think Hiro?" Goro asked.
"I'm not sure. But we may have the potential to do something that Papa didn't teach us about."
"Guys?" Ichigo asked Reaper Alpha.
"It's not our place to say." Raven said distractedly.
"Then whose is it?" Zorome demanded.
"Mine." Reaper said as he walked through the door.
"Reaper!" Owl said, and his squad rushed toward him.
"I'm fine guys. We have escaped punishment this time." Reaper said.
"Where are Havana and Kokoro?" Hiro asked.
"Kokoro is probably off coping somewhere, and Havana is probably with her."
"Coping?" Ichigo asked.
"It's never easy to see someone you have looked up to all of your life break down in front of your eyes."
"What?" Ikuno asked.
"Nana had an emotional breakdown and snapped at Kokoro. Being told that you're not special, that your emotions mean nothing, that you only exist to pilot a FranXX, it can be hard on a person, especially someone like Kokoro. She will probably reappear in the morning."
"I think it's kinda nice actually, to be able to leave something behind." Zero Two said suddenly, changing the topic suddenly. "I'm so envious. You all can leave something behind whereas I can't. You are very lucky in that regard."
Reaper sent a glance at Snake who nodded his head. "I wouldn't say that Zero Two, but that is a topic for another day. You all should get to bed, we will be leaving soon."
…
Kokoro was in one of the abandoned rooms crying her eyes out, Havana was sitting next to her offering what comfort she could.
"It's all my fault." Kokoro cried.
"Kokoro, dear, it was not your fault. It will never be your fault." Kokoro lifted her head and looked at her. "I don't care what Nana, Hachi, or anyone else says, having such thoughts is not wrong. For someone your age, it's perfectly normal. No one is angry at you for having such thoughts, well, no one who matters anyway."
"Thank you, Havana."
"Anytime. Now, let's get you cleaned up. Let me go get you some water to wash your face. We can't have everyone seeing you in such a state."
When Havana returned a few minutes later, Kokoro was gone. In her place, a note was left explaining that Mitsuru had taken her to be put to bed.
"Take care of her Mitsuru. And if something does come of tonight, you better take responsibility." Her voice darkened. "If you don't, not even Death will stop me from killing you."
…
APE HQ
"So, the Princess decided to go down the path of annihilation."
"So foolish. And now, they'll feel the pain of having their earth scorched by their own creation."
The entrance to the meeting room opened and the 9s walked in.
"We are back Papa. There's something you need to know." Alpha said.
A/N: Oh boy, here we go. Mitsuru, please don't do something you will regret. What will the 9s tell Papa? What will happen when the 9s attempt to crash the wedding next chapter? Nothing good, I assure you. Also, we've broken the 10k views mark, thanks guys! But as always, reviews and criticism are greatly appreciated, and flames will be used to roast marshmallows. Ciao!