House Call [[Nanoha]]

[The Horned Frog]

This was not the Foreigner forte to venture out during the daytime. It drew mostly unwanted attention from the common populace, and some tension between him and the authorities. That was then, this is now. Now, he was able to move freely with his helmet covering his identity safe from the public and without conflict with the law itself. The governments of the planet had acknowledged the presence of both vigilante and alien nations, rendering the Great Alliance as government agents. The Horned Frog represented Israel, and the Jewish nation had footed the bill for most of New Masada's construction. As he walked down the busy streets of Uminari City, he was searching for a particular person.

The girl was very young for recruitment into the university's ranks, but he felt that she had enough experience to be called straight into the Great Alliance. Yet she was more of a special case, as he pondered to himself. A member of the Alliance, yet train alongside the other students until she reaches eighteen. Then, David could pass the torch accordingly, and if the Imperium is doesn't arrive or is defeated...Takamachi Nanoha would be the Horned Frog's successor. Then, David could happily fade into obscurity. To bring back normalcy to his existence, as his demons have been conquered and the world would no longer need The Horned Frog.

His HUDs flared up, giving David the indication that his destination was drawing near. It was a family bakery, a good-standing small business. The black helmeted head of the Frog tilted towards his left side for a moment. This should be interesting, as he wondered how her parents would react to such a proposal. Taking their little girl into hardened service and having her fight an alien menace. Perhaps he was guilty of trying to commit Nanoha into being like the Horned Frog. A defender without a life of their own to defend. A reflection of himself.

David stopped, facing the storefront of the bakery. It was a very strange sight to behold. The kanji was in silver, purple, and red openly saying, "Welcome Horned Frog". He was very impressed, as when he had contacted Nanoha sometime before and she had informed her parents of his arrival. He felt honored in a sense, but had a deep sense of remorse. These people were terribly optimistic. Too optimistic for their own good. The Horned Frog could never have these feelings about his current occupation. For him, it was like preparing for a war. A war that will reign in its casualties and massive loss of life. Blood that would be on his hands.

Opening the door and entering, he examined the scene in front of him. A welcoming committee of sorts? He moved his head this way and that, examining his settings. Then, his concealed eyes fell upon the girl who he was supposed to meet. Reddish brown hair, eyes very much like his, and a very cheerful demeanor to the young girl. She was dressed in what appeared to be a good, clean set of clothing. As if he was some sort of special occasion. David didn't believe that was case. The Horned Frog straightened up and bowed to her in a formal greeting. This visit will life-changing for this girl.

[Takamachi Nanoha]

In a careful motion, the silver tray of freshly baked cinnamon and peanut butter cookies was placed on the bottom rack of goods inside the glass case. Whoever would have these confectioneries would have a delicious meal, courtesy of her older sister Miyuki, and Nanoha smiled at the thought. Her parents were in the kitchen with the bakery's small grouping of staff, and today was turning out to be a profitable business.

On quick observation, the bakery was empty minus the cheer radiating from the extra polished table surfaces and the decorations of light streamers and multicolored ornaments dangling from the sides of the viewing case. It was early for the hungry after school teenagers and exhausted college couples to wander in and order by the dozens, but the events ahead tramped those worries. She hoped the small, plastic bag of warm. cut-out cookies and cakes she had set on top of the counter for her visitor would be received well. He may not like sweets, but that was all she could do; it was the least she could do to show her sincerity outright, a gesture of good faith. Relations with superiors was the first step towards a good workplace environment. Working with friends had taught such.

Nanoha was excited, but she was serious about this probable position. She had the knowledge of what she was signing up for, even if the bakery outstretched a greeting that hinted towards a party. When lives were at stake, joking around was not an option she was well-aware of; without racing against the clock, her best friends might have suffered a heartwrenching destiny if she had not forced them to see reason. If she could give a helping hand to someone likewise, then what was she standing there for? However, much was to be accomplished. Before leaping into the fray to rescue anyone or put her life on the line for the cause there would be vigorous training to improve her all-around and exemplify her knowledge. That would be no different than her daily striving to hone herself.

She had dressed appropriately, not over-the-top or too casual. The kitchen's white apron was draped over her front from baking all morning, but she would take it off when he arrived to better expose the clean white shirt and black slacks underneath. She would most likely see him in the window approaching from the street, giving her time to breath and relax as he opened the door.

From what she had gathered, her visitor was normally not given open arms outside (based on apperance and other research on the whole situation), and the last thing she needed was for someone to feel outcasted in her home. He was far more experienced, but after dealing with those older than her in such high positions, she was comfortable in conversation. Obstacles would arise and hard topics could be brought up, but her current objective was to make The Foreigner feel welcome in her home so he could tell that she was a good candidate. The rule was to smooth things as simply as necessary until the meeting twisted to a truer nature.

The sound of the door's chime alerted her to her guest's arrival. At first she thought it might be a customer, but Nanoha gazed upwards in time to see David bowing to her. Momentarily she panicked, caught off-guard as she had been lost in her thoughts. Still, she found herself curious by his appearance. She had seen pictures, but in person was not as expected. Yet her reaction was not negative, and she smiled. After adjusting the tray in the case's prongs to allow the food to cool, Nanoha dusted some flour off her apron with a light motion of her hand since it was too late to remove it.

"Welcome," Nanoha stated happily and formally at once, walking around the counter to face David. She bowed her head and body forwards in return before straightening, Raising Heart swinging out from its tie on her neck and glinting in the overview lights. "I'm Takamachi Nanoha. It's nice to meet you."

[The Horned Frog]

Bringing himself back from his bowing position, his hands then moved to the back of his helmet. The Frog's gloved fingers depressed a few buttons and levers, the pressure within let out a hiss as it released air from within. He presumed that it was safe to show his face to Ms. Takamachi, somewhere his identity could be kept safe from prying eyes. His hands then pushed the helmet away from his frame as the black helmet gracefully transferred to the underside of right arm in a matter of seconds. Brought to light was his jet black hair, violet eyes, and youthful face. He had made sure that he shaved before making a personal appearance to this household, to present that he was not some gruff individual that would send Nanoha to hell and back.

"It's nice to meet you as well. I'm known as the Horned Frog or the Foreigner, but you may call me David," he responded with a deep, yet soft tone of voice. By now, he was used to speaking in Japanese. After all of those years in Tokyo and dealing with many other heroes of Japanese origins, one learns to pick up a few things along the way. He then glanced down upon his combat boots, and gave a slight frown. "I must apologize to you and your family beforehand, for I cannot remove my boots," he added, knowing well of the customs in the island country.

Before leaving Japan for New Masada Island, he had grown quite aware of the Japanese way of life. He saw it as quiet, polite, and reserved for the most part. Completely different from New York City of the mid twenty first century. Which was not unlike the New York of the early twenty first, as it was loud, bright, and boastful. Yet he hid himself away, working on refining his equipment and research, only to come out when he needed to take care of business. He never saw as being a superhero or some beacon of hope. Although he vowed to never kill individuals after his training with the Sable Cicada, he was still ruthless with his opponents. Even the most hardened criminals soon came to fear the Horned Frog.

When he did step into the criminal underworld to destroy it, there were always someone bigger and badder than the people he initially brought down. Still, they paled in comparison to the fighting ability and durability of the Horned Frog. It was due to the superior gifts and training that David had received that made him so formidable against even the most powerful adversaries. And with the Tartalian arrival and the formation of the University of New Masada, he was to share these gifts and training to others. One of those others was Takamachi Nanoha.

Yes, she has had experience with her ally, Raising Heart. But could she be able to fight in a hand to hand combat situation? Perhaps, but he couldn't count on that. She appeared to be healthy and in good shape, but her young form would be too fragile to handle the shots and attacks that the Horned Frog's body has taken over the years. That was why he felt it necessary to give her the opportunity to help Nanoha. After all, she could very well be his successor down the road. She would be more compassionate than he ever was, but would have enough wisdom at a young age to do what was right for the Alliance, the University, and for the human race.

For now, he needed proteges. He always worried that should he be lost in the event of conflict, there wouldn't someone able enough to take his place and lead the Alliance to an eventual victory. That's why he went after Takamachi Nanoha. He saw from his research that she indeed had those capabilities without all of the trauma that David had went through. Other than Usagi, Nanoha may be that beacon of light that the darkest of times would call for.