The monster is huge, a one-eyed bird flapping about through the trees, vicious talons swiping at the diminuative figure of Hikaru and the more elegant but also much more excitable Umi, her long blue hair flying. And then a third figure...

He's good-looking. Tall, with a short shock of green hair and an x-shaped scar. "Ferio, look out!" Hikaru cries as the bird swoops again, but Fuu--it's Fuu's voice which speaks--throws out an arm.

"Wait! He has a plan."

The bird's healing powers are extraordinary, but so is Ferio's agility. He dodges and backflips and leaps, his huge curved sword flashing in the sun, until the bird is flying right where he needs--impaling itself on the broken branches of a huge snag. With its healing confounded, it rattles out its last breath. "Ferio's an excellent bodyguard! Great idea, Fuu!" Umi gushes. But the monster isn't done yet.

Fuu looks up just in time to see it belch one final blast of magic. "IDIOT! Don't just stand there!" Before she can even try to unfreeze, Ferio has crashed into her, tackling her to the ground as the shot goes right over them.

She blinks up at him. He's blurry now; he knocked her glasses off. "Thank you... you saved my life." Her face feels warm as she sits up. "You know... that's the first time I've ever been called an idiot."

"Hey. You're cute when you smile." He laughs. "I thought you were a little shifty at first... but now I see you're kind of a babe!"

Maybe it's the force of the glowing red blush that cuts off the memory here?