01x01 - Alone and Lonesome

[bunniefuu]

They call them Jian birds.

Birds that have but a single wing each.

Only when a male and female join in union

can these incomplete creatures fly.

It's an interesting thing.

Such is their fate,

yet I thought it to be beautiful.

I felt that it was beautiful.

I want a bath.

This again? Have some patience.

Hey, how do I smell?

Let the poor boy sleep.

He's exhausted after that last battle.

Have you nothing better to do

with your energy?

Is there an ocean in 13th City?

Ocean?

I want to swim in a clear, blue ocean.

I'm afraid you won't find one there.

Is there something wrong with a shower?

I feel like swimming.

We will soon begin our descent.

Please fasten your seatbelt.

Understood.

We'll talk later.

I don't like how I taste.

They call them Jian birds.

According to the book I once read,

unless a male and female join in union,

these pitiful creatures cannot even fly.

Their lives before

finding their other halves

must consist of hiding among leaves,

stilling their breaths,

and dreaming of someday

soaring in the skies above.

Blood.

Hey

So what becomes of the birds

that never get to fly?

I know where they go.

They go

I found one.

A Partner k*ller?

See, she has horns and fangs, right?

She sucks the blood of the Parasite

who rides with her,

and by the third time, he dies!

Count me out.

Oh, that's just some silly rumor.

It's true!

Some guys heard the guards

talking about it!

Ichigo.

Did you get ahold of Hiro?

No.

So what,

is he going to end up staying here?

Well, he skipped

today's informational session.

Does that mean he turned it down?

It's such a shame. I'll miss him.

But otherwise, Naomi would be the

sole victim, through no fault of her own.

Is it not cleaner this way?

Besides, I'm sure Hiro would

rather not have to face us.

We should respect that.

Don't you start.

Are you okay with this, Ichigo?

That idiot.

I say, the seats of that transport

are too rigid for an old man.

Is there no better way?

You'll have to put up with it.

There are only so many ways

to transport something so big.

I see you're as rigid a woman

as when we last met.

If only your demeanor and those seats

were as soft as this!

Stop it, Professor!

How's Eight doing?

He's been charged with

overseeing the Children.

After all, no machine like this

has ever been attempted before.

Professor, may I ask something?

Why run this test case, at this stage?

And with such an ad hoc team.

I had a bit of an idea.

Though I don't expect those decrepit

APE men to understand.

So there's some reasoning behind all this.

Please remember that you are expected

to be at the activation ceremony.

I know.

That won't be an issue, but losing track

of our problem child might be.

What?

But she was just here

There.

What?

She's at it again.

It's alive.

I never knew this was here.

A Parasite?

But the uniform is different from ours.

Oh, no! Is she drowning?

I have to save her.

It was as if I'd been paralyzed.

The sight of those two alluring horns

and that nude female body

left me unable

to turn my eyes away from her.

You're naked?

Wait, no

Well, so much for my theory

that you were dead.

Are you a Parasite?

What are you doing, bathing here?

That's weird.

I heard that ocean water was salty.

Well, this isn't an ocean.

I know that much.

Still, it's the closest thing

to an ocean I know.

Aren't you going to swim?

What, me?

I'll pass.

Too bad. The water's nice.

I thought that was why you were staring.

That was because

I thought you were drowning!

So I tried to save you!

Sorry, but would you mind

putting on your clothes?

I get it!

You're one of those perverts!

Why?

I wasn't

You should have seen your face!

Still,

you tried to save me.

I should thank you.

So thanks.

Based on your uniform,

are you also a Parasite?

I'm not.

You don't ride?

I can't.

I no longer have that ability

My partner learned the hard way.

There's no place for me here anymore.

No place for you? Then we're the same.

I'm always alone too,

thanks to these horns.

You have to make a place for yourself.

Get yourself a new partner.

Or if not, steal one!

Now there's an exciting taste.

It's tingly, lingering

and dangerous.

What was

Or would you have preferred a kiss?

A kiss?

That's right. You wouldn't know.

It's something very special.

You know, I think I'm interested in you.

Won't you become my darling?

Darling?

You mean your partner?

I'm sure your abilities are just dormant.

But I can awaken them.

You weren't afraid when you saw my horns.

As she offered her hand, I found myself

Shame. It looks like time's up.

We were looking for you.

Why do you always run off somewhere?

It's not like there's anything better

to do before tomorrow's induction.

Spare a thought for me, your partner.

Her partner

You're a Parasite candidate?

Tomorrow's your induction.

I'm sorry that she was bothering you.

It's okay.

Wait, you're her partner--

Let me warn you.

It's best to stay away from this girl.

She's not the sort of Pistil

just anyone can deal with.

Your name!

What's your name?

My name?

Since when do we Parasites have names?

But for what it's worth,

I'm Code 002. People call me Zero Two.

"Then we're the same."

Or so she had said.

It wasn't the realization that I'd been

toyed with for not having a partner,

but the realization that somewhere

within me, I'd still held on to that hope

that was the most demeaning.

Because I know.

There is no place for birds

who can't fly to go to.

13TH PLANTATION: CERASUS

Look! Adults!

Yes. So many, and all for us!

"You are the chosen ones."

That's what Papa told us.

For as long as we can remember,

we Children have been assigned numbers

and taught that our only purpose

was to pilot the weapons named FRANXX

that require a boy-girl team to operate.

Let your souls burn.

Burn, to the last drop of your lifeblood!

You must become the light of humanity!

If a Child is incapable of that,

his life has no value.

That's why I've decided

to leave this place.

Ichigo.

Focus on the ceremony.

Papa and the rest are watching.

Right.

That covers the administrative details

for your return to the facility.

Do you have any other questions?

None in particular.

Code 016, headquarters has granted you

special permission to stay.

You have no intention of accepting it?

None at all.

I see. Very well.

Positive pulse.

P-factor falling.

Operation timed out.

Commencing sixth connection.

Measuring ability scores.

Negative pulse confirmed.

Positive pulse on standby.

Three, two, one.

Operation timed out.

Code 703 and Code 016

failed.

You at least should have stayed, Hiro.

Is this just because

you feel sorry for me?

That's not it.

Even if I stay,

it's not like I'll be of any use.

You've always been like that.

You're just running away, you know.

Both from your partner and yourself.

We've both watched as our friends

at the facility disappeared.

There's no telling

when we'll meet the same fate.

Don't act so noble!

Even if it's favoritism,

at least you get to stay here!

After everything it took

to get here

If it were me, I'd give my life to stay!

Keep the chatter to a minimum!

Naomi

Why

Why did you have to be my partner?

Hiro didn't end up coming.

Oh, forget that crybaby.

He was a mystery to the end.

I hope both Hiro and Naomi

make it back safely.

I doubt the ship

is bound for the Garden.

I've never heard of a Parasite

who returned.

Are you ready?

-Yes!

-Yes!

Well, take care, Hiro.

-I doubt we'll meet again.

-What?

I may be finished,

but you still have potential.

Don't waste it pitying me.

Now hang on, Naomi!

What are you

I don't need that anymore.

-You and the others use it.

-Wait!

I've gotten quite attached

to the name you gave me.

Find yourself a good partner, Hiro.

Naomi

Leave her!

You can still catch the next plant.

Naomi

I smell a Klaxosaur.

We shall now commence

the activation ceremony.

You are about to, for the first time,

become official Parasites.

What was that?

This bodes ill. Fog is gathering.

What's the matter? Get on already.

I changed my

What the

That wasn't there before.

Naomi!

A Klaxosaur!

Ready defenses!

That's a Klaxosaur?

It's heading for

Damn it!

Another Klaxosaur?

Klaxosaur! Evacuate!

A Moho-class.

Large, powerful,

and quite formidable-looking.

Don't stand there and muse!

Prepare to evacuate!

Hurry up and retrieve the Parasites!

What's going on?

Garage 2 damaged.

Unable to withdraw Delphinium.

A stampede, now?

A most dreadful form.

She must have devoured the Stamen again.

One could not say

which is more of a monster.

Is everyone okay?

What the

That hurt

What just

Hey!

He's done for. Leave him.

You're

What are you doing in there?

Doing? Exterminating a monster.

In that robot all alone?

I have to go.

Hold on!

You can't! You're hurt!

I don't have time for you!

It's too dangerous. And you're alone.

One person can't pilot a FRANXX.

I'm always alone.

I'm used to loneliness.

So far, it's worked.

You can't! You'll die!

I'm not afraid of death.

That thing will be back in action

soon enough.

If that happens, we'll all be dead anyway.

I'm not afraid of death.

I have something I need to do.

I should get going.

"I'm powerless.

In my state, I can neither save my

friends nor take on that Klaxosaur."

That's what I was thinking.

Yet when I saw her before me,

the words that escaped my mouth were

Wait.

I'll ride that robot.

I can't leave you.

I can't let you go alone!

Really?

Are you prepared to die?

I'm not sure.

But right now,

I have no other place to go.

I may as well be dead.

So please let me on!

So we are the same.

We're alike, you and I.

It's been a while

since I last saw human tears.

I like your eyes.

They excite me.

Now come.

Let me taste you.

Henceforth, you are

My darling!

Here it comes!

It's moving again!

They were eaten?

No.

Look!

Negative and positive.

When male and female factors

are joined in heart,

the steel maiden shows her true form!

Now this is a FRANXX!

Beautiful!

You're incredible, Strelizia!

But who's piloting it?

Let's finish this.

So that's a FRANXX.

That's what we'll pilot.

The warmth of her lips on mine

set my heart racing for some reason.

I don't remember anything else

about what happened in the c*ck.

Hiro?

What is he doing there?

Wait, isn't the other one

Horns?

Then the Pistil is

The Partner k*ller.

Allow me to introduce her.

Pistil of the APE Special Guard Force,

Code 002.

A girl with Klaxosaur blood.

But I had taken that first step myself.

That was when I thought that, perhaps,

I might fly again.

I've found you, my darling.