Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo are two average 15 year old girls who are students
in their last year of elementary school. Yui is the smartest girl in the
class and Miaka, well, she's not. *But she likes to eat so yea for her
because eating is good.* They go the The National Library so Yui can return
a book. Miaka daydreams about food along the way. She has a vision of a
red bird that guides her into a room labeled Important Foreign Documents
Room. Yui follows her in and suddenly a book falls to the floor. An ancient
Chinese text titled Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho which translates into The Universe
of the Four Gods, Sky and Earth. Miaka and Yui wonder about the book and
they begin to read. The first page has a mysterious introduction:"
"This is the
story of a girl who gathered the seven Seishi of Suzaku and gained omnipotent
powers. The book itself is an incantation. Whoever finishes reading it
will also receive these powers. When the page is turned, the story will
become the truth and begin."
Miaka and Yui turn
the page and they get sucked into the book in a flash of red light.
When they wake up, they are in a desert and are suddenly surrounded by
BAD men who sell girls. Yui gets grabbed and Miaka tackles the man to free
Yui. The men gang up on the girls and suddenly a mysterious blue haired
boy with an Oni (Ogre) symbol on his forehead saves them. An expert martial
artist, this boy saves the two girl's lives. Miaka thanks him graciously
but the boy asks for money instead of thanks. Miaka searches for money
while Yui chase after the man. Suddenly, Yui is surrounded by red light
(Suzaku) and disappears. Yui returns to the real world and amazed to read
the book and find all that has happened to her is written in the book.
Miaka looks up and sees that Yui is missing so she thinks that the boy
must have kidnapped Yui. She travels into the country of Konan which resembles
ancient China and asks around if anyone has seen a boy with an Oni symbol.
Word gets around a foreign girl is wandering around town looking for a
boy with a symbol and this reaches the ears of the country's emperor. Miaka
gets tricked and she gets attacked by another group of men and the same
boy shows up and saves her. Miaka learns that this boy is So Kichiku but
is called Tamahome and he does not have Yui. So Miaka follows him around
and yells at him for not helping her find Yui. Tamahome finally gives up
and says he will if she pays him. Miaka is majorly pissed so she starts
calling him a girl trafficker and the people around them gives looks of
disgust at Tamahome. Tamahome is so embarrassed that he picks up Miaka
and runs away from all the talk. Tamahome assures Miaka that he is no girl
trafficker which Miaka quickly agrees. So Tamahome drops her quite rudely
on the ground. Miaka cries and she does this alot so Tamahome apologizes
and then agrees to help her. They walk back into the center of town and
see parade of soldiers guarding the Emperor. Miaka does something stupid
and the two get arrested.
Miaka and Tamahome
escape and gets separated.
At the emperor's palace Miaka meets up with a pretty and mysterious girl
named Hotohori, who tells Miaka it is safe to leave. Miaka thanks the girl
but she sees Tamahome being recaptured so she runs to help him. We find
out the girl is really the emperor himself. Miaka is shocked and
goes up to him and feels his chest. She feels nothing and says, "If nothing
is up here, that means there's something secret down there." Tamahome
smacks her and says, "Don't go that far!"
Hotohori explains to Miaka the story of the "Universe of the Four Gods":
When the land of Konan is in trouble, a girl from a strange world will
appear and become their land's savior, Suzaku no Miko. She will gather
seven star-honored warriors (shichiseishi) whose duty it is to protect
her, then summon the animal god Suzaku and be granted the power to make
wishes come true. Miaka eagerly accepts the position, and envisions herself
becoming the smartest girl, eating all her favorite foods, and passing
the high school entrance exams. Because she is the Suzaku no miko it is
now her duty to gather, the Suzaku shichiseishi. Hotohori (who bears the
character "Star" on his neck) and Tamahome are two of them.
Hotohori, as emperor,
holds in his possession a sacred scroll with the legend written upon it
(Suzaku version). This scroll holds valuable clues specifically meant for
Suzaku no Miko to find her seishi.
Miaka, Tamahome, and Hotohori set out to find the remaining 5 seishi. First
Hotohori summons the strongest and smartest men who thinks they are worthy
to the palace where Miaka tests their honor by insulting them and Tamahome
tests their skills by beating them all up. Miaka's name calling succeeds
as the men get pissed off and attack her so none of them are worthy. A
beautiful girl spies on the group from behind a pillar. Miaka gets trapped
under a placebo like structure and Tamahome manages to make it in time
to shield her body, but both are being crushed. No one is able to help
and suddenly, the mysterious beautiful girl shows up and throws away the
rubble like nothing.
The beautiful court princess is thanked by Hotohori and reveals herself
as Kourin or the third shichiseishi, Nuriko. Miaka thanks Nuriko
for saving them and Nuriko brushes her aside and makes a pass at Tamahome
who is very happy such a pretty girl is paying attention to him. Nuriko
has a huge crush on Hotohori, but her love is ignored as Hotohori doesn't
seem to have a clue as to her feelings and he loves Miaka. She sees Miaka
as a threat to succeeding in winning Hotohori's affections, Nuriko gets
super jealous and revenges herself by possessing Tamahome. Tamahome quickly
gets bored of Nuriko's forced affections and runs and hides. This brings
up feelings that Miaka didn't know she had for Tamahome and she gets jealous
but doesn't admit it. Miaka reassures Nuriko that she has no feeling for
Hotohori so Nuriko warms up to her. Later, Hotohori confesses his love
for Miaka, she instead realizes that she doesn't love Hotohori, but has
fallen for Tamahome. Nuriko and Tamahome was eavesdropping and they overhear.
Both are upset because Tamahome cares about Miaka but he can't compete
with the Emperor and Nuriko is once again mad at Miaka that the Emperor
loves her instead.
Miaka goes out into
the country and Tamahome and her gets attacked. Tamahome saves them with
Nuriko watching secretly behind an alley. She was spying on the two. Miaka
asks why Tamahome keeps on saving her and Tamahome wouldn't give a direct
answer and asks why it was so important and Miaka shouts, "Because...because..
because I love you!" and covers her mouth quickly. Tamahome, unfortunately,
coldly replies that he doesn't love her and Miaka's confession of love
is refused. He walks away and Miaka faints from the shock and of a fever
and Tamahome runs back and cradles her in his arms.
Looking out for Miaka's happiness, Hotohori leads them to Mt. Taikyoku,
the home of Taitsu-kun, Creator and Lord of their world.
While on this journey, Miaka feels faint and Nuriko directs her into a
spring to rest and bathe claiming the spring had magical healing abilities.
Nuriko then sends Tamahome to Miaka and Tamahome reluctantly goes. He hears
Miaka scream and jumps into the spring and disappears underwater. Miaka
is crying and wails, "Tamahome got eaten by a snake!" and Tamahome pops
up and tells her not to give up on him that easily. the 'snake" was a floating
log and Tamahome calls Miaka an idiot. They both realize that Miaka is
naked and both turn away with red faces. Both attempt to apologize and
both make up but Tamahome still refuses Miaka's love. He gets out and leaves.
Miaka gets out and a cracking noise is heard dumping Nuriko to the ground.
Nuriko was spying on the two and when Miaka realizes that Nuriko was trying
to get the two together, she shakes Nuriko enthusiastically with gratitude,
Nuriko's shirt slips off her shoulders to reveal... that she's not built
like a woman should be. Much to Miaka's shock and horror, Nuriko reveals
that she is in fact a he, pointing out that he can put his manhood aside
for love.
Taitsu-kun *shadowed* has been watching Miaka with interest ever since
she first arrived in this world, and gives Miaka a grueling test
to prove her worthiness as Suzaku no Miko. Miaka has to face down an evil
twin to prove that Miaka is good, pure of intention, and worthy of
assistance. Miaka gets seriously hurt and she needed blood so Tamahome
and Hotohori quickly offers their own. Miaka is then carried to Taiitsu-kun
who heals them all. Taitsu-kun explains to Miaka that it would be possible
to go back to her world because of the link that bonded her to Yui. This
link was their identical school uniforms. It was because of this link that
Yui's experiences were the same as Miaka's like when Miaka was trapped
under rubble and her leg was injured and when Miaka was wet and so ws Yui.
And so, with the seishi rooting her on in the Universe of the Four Gods,
and Yui begging for her return in the library, Miaka returns home.
When she arrives back in the library, Yui has disappeared, and the library
is closing. Miaka tries to call Yui at home and can't figure out where
she might be. She is very worried about Yui's disappearance and returns
home. Miaka tells her brother Keisuke what has happened to her and tries
to convince Keisuke and her mother that she's not crazy for believing that
she actually was sucked into a book. Finally, Miaka realizes that Yui must
have taken her place in the book, and goes back to the library where she
goes back into the book right before Keisuke's eyes. He was following her
the whole time. An amazed Keisuke picks up the book and he starts to read
therefore, the story continues.
Back at the palace in Konan, Miaka discovers that three months have passed
in the book world during the evening that she has been gone. Still worried
about Yui, Miaka begs Nuriko and Hotohori to help her find her best
friend. Tamahome has left the palace to find work and is unable to help.
Nuriko informs Miaka that since Miaka left, Tamahome been really depressed
about something. Nuriko accompanies Miaka in her search for Yui and Tamahome,
where they run into him. Miaka and Tamahome embrace and then they notice
the stares around them so they jump back. Tamahome has been guarding some
villagers for money. Curious about why Tamahome is so obsessed with money,
Miaka and Nuriko follow Tamahome early one morning, and find out
that he has this little family in a nearby village that he's supporting
by himself. They learn that his mother died when he was twelve, and his
father is sickly, so Tamahome does whatever jobs he can in order to raise
the money to make ends meet for his four little siblings and father. Miaka
is touched.
The miko and shichiseishi are attacked by assassins, and more assassins
threaten Tamahome's family. Each time, they are helped and rescued by a
mysterious monk who warns them about the origins of the assassins. They
were being sent from the southern country of Kutou, and that Miaka, the
Suzaku no Miko, was the target. He also tells them that Kutou country is
looking for its own miko, the Seiryuu no Miko.
The monk who saved Miaka and all of the seishi's lives turns out to be
the 4th shichiseishi, Chichiri. Chichiri warns Miaka to be careful and
to take note that her actions may endanger others in ways she does not
expect. Miaka keeps this in mind as she travels on. Miaka realizes that
Yui might have been recruited to be Kutou's Seiryuu no Miko, and that they
would be in warring camps if this happened. Miaka attempts travels alone
to Kutou country but Tamahome follows her and Chichiri tracks the two of
them. Miaka arrives at Kutou's gates and tells the guards that she is Seiryuu
no Miko so that she may go into the country. She is taken in and led away
by Nakago, the Kutou army's shogun with Tamahome watching.
Miaka is led before the Kutou emperor and her scroll The Universe of the
Four Gods is taken by Nakago. Miaka and Yui are then reunited in
the palace and Yui reassures Miaka that although she was asked, she
is not the Seiryuu no Miko. Tamahome locates the two girls, and then
Yui leaves Miaka to go and retrieve the scroll of the Universe of the Four
Gods. While they wait for Yui to return, Tamahome finally admits his love
for Miaka and they kiss. So sweet a scene!! At this point Yui returns but
she overhears Miaka tell Tamahome that she only returned to this world
to see him. Yui feels betrayed and hurt.
Unknown to Miaka, Yui has had a horrible time of these past
three months when she got sucked into the book. Just like how Tamahome
saved Miaka, Nakago saved Yui's life. For the three months that yui
was alone in Kutou, Nakago's been telling Yui that Miaka didn't care about
her and wouldn't come to help her. Yui wouldn't believe him but the day
by day exposure to this and not seeing Miaka had her belief wavering. Overhearing
this confession of Miaka's shatters Yui's confidence in her best friend.
It also doesn't help that Yui also has a huge a crush on Tamahome. These
feeling soon erupt and Yui accepts the position as Seiryuu no Miko.
Yui lures Miaka to the Seiryuu shrine to reveal her decision to Miaka and
she starts to beat up Miaka with Nakago's chi magic. Nakago is the
first Seiryuu shichiseishi. When Chichiri and Tamahome try to enter the
shrine, they realize that it had a barrier against Suzaku seishi. Tamahome
charges the doors and succeeds in breaking through the barrier into the
shrine. Nakago is weakened by the intrusion but he attempts to destroy
all of them with his chi. All three are injured in the battle. Chichiri
tells Tamahome to escape with Miaka through his hat and Tamahome calls
out to Yui to come with them. Chichiri is fighting Nakago is shielding
the other two with his chi and body. Tamahome begs and finally they left
without Yui knowing that Yui's decision is final.
Chichiri transports himself, Miaka, and Tamahome to Mt. Taikyoko to be
healed by Taiitsu-kun. Tamahome and Miaka woke up naked in abed next to
each other and this is seriously funny scene. They argue and then Taitsu-kun
arrives and tell them what has happen to Yui-chan. Yui was attacked and
raped by thugs upon arriving in Kutou country before being rescued by Nakago.
Emotionally traumatized, she tried to commit suicide by slitting her wrist.
She was healed by the Kotou doctors and she lived only on the hope that
Miaka would come for her. Now she sees Miaka as her betrayer and
will get revenge at any cost. Since Miaka's Universe of the Four Gods scroll
was in Kutou, Taiitsu-kun gives her a special mirror in its place,
to provide her with the clues she will need for finding the shichiseishi.
The mirror will flash a clue if they are near any seishi.
When everyone returns to Konan's palace, Tamahome gets a message from Kutou
promising that the assassination attempts for Miaka will stop if
he surrenders himself to Kutou and to go alone. He promised Miaka
he wouldn't go but he goes anyways and leaves a letter with Wo Ai Ni on
it. So he leaves, promising Miaka that he will return when the remaining
seishi have been gathered. Hotohori stays behind because of emperorly duties
as Miaka and Nuriko leave to search for the remaining seishi. They stop
at a restaurant to eat and they are attacked and to their surprise, Hotohori
saves them. Apparently, Chichiri is at the palace masquerading as Hotohori
in Hotohori's place.
As the travelers near Mt. Reikoku, Miaka's mirror indicates "mountain."
Before they can figure it out, Hotohori, Miaka and Nuriko are kidnapped
by bandits and taken to the Mt. Reikoku stronghold. The three are tied
up and Miaka is taken away to meet the bandit leader, Eiken. Eiken tries
to rape Miaka and is saved by Hotohori and Nuriko. Undergoing torture given
by Nuriko, Eiken reveals that Tasuki has the character on his body. suddenly
in a gust of wind, Miaka is swept away by a bandit named Genrou, *Gen-chan!
whoo!!* who throws out ofudas *paper with sacred writings* that transforms
into wolves and attack Eiken, Hotohori, and Nuriko. Hotohori slices one
wolf in half revealing it as paper and Eiken reaches for a fan and it shoots
out flames, toasting the rest of the wolves which also return back to paper.
Genrou takes Miaka to his hide out. and tries to kiss Miaka *bad Gen-chan*
and gets smacked in the face. *hehe* Miaka yells at him and tells him not
to underestimate her just because she is a girl. Miaka then attempts to
fight but gives up. Genrou then calls her a brat and proceeds to tell her
that he doesn't like girls who don't cry a bit and hell, he doesn't like
girls period and only needed a hostage. And then he yells at Miaka for
she's attempting to take off his shirt in search for a Suzaku character.
Kouji then enters and he and Genrou dance. Miaka learns that Genrou was
suppose to be the bandit leader but Eiken stole the position so Miaka wants
to help Genrou recover his lost title. As she is planning this out, Genrou
and Kouji look at her funny and say to each other, "She doesn't understand
that she's a hostage, does she?" Miaka is certain that Tasuki, the 5th
shichiseishi, is somewhere nearby, and wants to find him quickly so Tamahome
can come back. She goes with Genrou and Kouji back to Mt. Reikoku and is
reunited with Nuriko and Hotohori. They also agree to help and they fight
Eiken and win. Genrou gains back the possession of the tessen *iron fan*
and becomes leader. Miaka learns Tasuki was the former bandit leader who
died and is in despair because Suzaku can't be summoned and Tamahome can't
return if even one seishi is dead or missing.
Miaka wonders what she will do if one of her seishi is not living, and
the two rogue bandits mention a village nearby where a young woman has
been raising the dead. Miaka, Hotohori, and Nuriko then take off for the
village to locate this woman so she can bring Tasuki back to life. They
travel there and meet a woman named Shoka who is the woman who is bringing
the dead back to life. Miaka has to confirm Shoka is a woman because of
her two previous two mistakes on Hotohori's and Nuriko's gender so she
goes up and feels Shoka's chest much to the embarrassment of the others.
They learn that the village has a deadly plague and causes the victim to
be in great pain so they wish they were dead. Miaka feels sick but doesn't
tell anyone. Miaka and the others want Shoka to travel back to Mt. Reikoku
to resurrect Tasuki but Shoka's power can only be used within the village.
The three travel back to Mt. Reikoku and try to bring Tasuki's coffin here
but are attacked by zombies. They are all grabbed and are saved when Genrou
makes an dramatic appearance and fries the zombies with his tessen *Reikka
Shinen!!!*. Miaka wonders why he's here and he calls Miaka a baka
*hey that rhymed* and reveals his "wing" symbol on his lower right arm
and goes, "Baka. Genrou's just my nickname. I'm Tasuki." *wolf-grin*
At this
moment Miaka faints and it turns out that this is the disease that had
no cure and is extremely painful before death. They beg Shoka to heal her
but Shoka says her only power is to bring the dead back to life, not heal.
Unable to allow Miaka to die, or kill her, the three seishi find a local
doctor-turned-hermit named Myou Juan for help. At first he refuses to have
anything to do with them *prob bcuz Miaka tried to take Tama's fish*, but
at mention of "Shoka", he tells them Shoka died of the same plague
one year ago. The three shichiseishi run back and is attacked by more zombies,
victims of the plague. Tasuki and Nuriko battle the zombies as Hotohori
run back to Miaka. Miaka ws being attacked by a demon Shoka and Miaka was
having a moment with her. We learn that Shoka had the same disease and
she dies alone while her lover was alone, therefore easy to possess. Myou
Juan suddenly appears and he is Shoka's missing lover. The demon takes
over and Shoka begs Myou Juan for his help and to heal her. He unwraps
his hand and goes, "Great healing power" healing Shoka but really killing
her and freeing her body and soul from the demon. Shoka cries, not of pain
but happiness because her Myou Juan is with her and everyone is freed from
the magic plague. The house disappears and Tasuki goes, "It's an illusion."
*duh* Myou Juan heals Miaka and Miaka sees a character on Myou Juan's left
hand and he is the fifth shichiseishi, Mitsukake. They bury Shoka and move
on looking for the last shichiseishi.
The group head back and Miaka hears a flute. Only she can hear it and its
tune is pretty. They stop by Tamahome's village and see Tamahome's little
brother, the second oldest i the family running for the doctor. Miaka
takes Mitsukake and he heals Tamahome's father. Later that night,
they are attacked by hundred of bats. A Kutou assassin proudly declares
that he has control over the bats and will kill them, when suddenly a young
boy with a flute appears and begins to play. The notes of his tune cause
the bats to go insane, crashing into trees and killing themselves. The
Kutou assassin also dies from the potency of the boy's tune. The boy is
revealed to be the 7th shichiseishi, Chiriko, and with this joyous news,
a plan is hatched to rescue Tamahome from Kutou.
The eight return home back to Konan palace and Chichiri as Hotohori is
informed of the arrival so he poofs and runs to greet the others, poofing
back to normal seconds before hugging Miaka. This scares the crap out of
Tasuki. Tasuki remarks on the hugeness of the palace and wonders where
is Hotohori and laughs saying he got lost already.
Nuriko sighs and goes,
"You still haven't figure it out?"
Tasuki: "Figure what
out?"
Nuriko: "That Hotohori
is no other than..." and gets interrupted by Hotohori in his Emperor clothes.
Hotohori: "That is
enough, Nuriko"
Chichiri: "Welcome
back, Emperor."
And much shocked faces
of newcomers. Later Tasuki wonders if he'll be punished because he hit
and yelled at the emperor in the past. Chichiri and Miaka devise
a plan to contact Tamahome and they agree to meet under a tree in Kutou's
garden when the moon is at its highest.
However, Yui overhears Tamahome's plans to leave. In desperation she appeals
to Nakago for help. Nakago gives Yui a pill to put in Tamahome's food,
promising that it will make Tamahome hers forever. She gives this pill
to Tamahome by mouth through a kiss and it alters his personality, making
him hate Suzaku no Miko and her shichiseishi. When Miaka and Chichiri prepare
to leave, Tasuki bribes Miaka to let him tag along with a meat bun and
they get teleported into a tree. All three are in chibi or super deformed
form *whatever you want* and is stuck in a tree. of course, the tree branch
breaks and they all fall. they go to the tree and get captured by Yui,
Nakago, and Kotou soldiers. Miaka distracts everyone and tells Chichiri
and Tasuki to escape which they do but Tasuki is majorly pissed at abandoning
Miaka and her being captured. They're stuck in a tree again. Miaka gets
thrown into cell but she escapes only to meet up with Yui and evil Tamahome.
Evil Tamahome tried to kill Miaka, only to be rescued by Chichiri posing
as Nakago. Miaka runs off to find Tamahome in hope of changing him. Tamahome
attacks Miaka and she's saved by Tasuki who took a nun chuck hit in the
head. *wah. He bled. Gonna kill Tamahome....* Tasuki defended Miaka and
he got beat up badly because Nakago was a cheater!! *damn that $%*%#)&@&
Nakago* They three escape with Tasuki covered in wounds. Miaka says good
bye giving up and as she leaves, Tamahome cries although he doesn't know
why. Nakago is shocked that his love is stronger than the poison.
Miaka is horribly depressed by this turn of events, and, has hallucinating
visions of Tamahome. She walks into the river and is pulled under by the
current and falls unconscious. Hotohori rescues Miaka from the river by
calling upon his seishi powers and they float safely up from the river
onto dry land. Hotohori then proposes marriage to Miaka and she considers
because of her loss. Tasuki is being bandaged by Mitsukake *funny scene
and very nice one if you're a Tasuki fan* and is screaming in pain. Mitsukake
is still too weak from healing Tamahome's father and Miaka's broken arm
to heal Tasuki so he's an invalid.
The next day, Tamahome returns to Konan country on his own, intending to
kill Miaka and the others. Hotohori, in a rage at the earlier attempt on
Miaka's life, challenges Tamahome to a fight to the death. Hotohori wins
when he impales Tamahome on his sword. Miaka runs out screaming Tamahome's
name and tamahome still intends to kill the miko. Miaka says she'll let
him if he doesn't die and she cries. Near death, Tamahome's chi is so weak
that the effects of the spell controlling him are weakened enough so his
love for Miaka resurfaces. Miaka confesses her love for him once
again and his memories and former personality return. Mitsukake heals Tamahome
and all is well as the others run to Tamahome, glad that their friend is
back. *argh, healing Tamahome before Tasuki!!??*
Yui, still in Kutou, is depressed at having failed to "win" over Miaka.
She ignores her miko duties and is being all bratty. *I DO like Yui but
she's just a meanie at the moment* Nakago reassures her that he has a plan
and everything is under control. He introduces her to another Seiryuu seishi
named Suboshi, and while Yui can't see the significance, Suboshi looks
identical to Chiriko...
The Suzaku miko and shichiseishi perform the summoning ceremony and we
find out that the boy everyone thought was Suzaku seishi Chiriko, is in
fact a Seiryuu seishi, Amiboshi, sent by Nakago to infiltrate the Suzaku
seishi, disrupt their summoning ceremony, and kill them all. Amiboshi's
identical twin brother, the Seiryuu seishi Suboshi, and Suboshi keeps the
Seiryuu people informed because of the twin's special spiritual link. They
communicate with each other by writing on their body and that gets transferred
to the other. *oo..cheaters on tests!! Good plan!*
At the Suzaku summoning ceremony, Amiboshi plays his flute and by focusing
his chi into the notes of his song, he creates this tune that is unbearable
to hear so everyone drops onto their knees holding their heads. As
he plays, another tune breaks the pattern of his notes and releases the
Suzaku from the spell. Amiboshi gets scared so he flees, and Tamahome and
Tasuki chase him through the country. Tasuki Rekka shinens Amiboshi
or tries to and hits Tamahome with the fire instead. When Tamahome turns
and yells at him, Tasuki only smirks. Amiboshi gets trapped by a river
and the two Suzaku catch up. Miaka and Chichiri appear by flying on Chichiri's
kesa *Chichiri's blue and white swirlys cloak* and lands on top of Tasuki.
Amiboshi tries to escape but slips and falls off a wall into the river,
and is swept away. Suboshi feels that his brother's chi is no longer with
him so Amiboshi must be dead.
Finally we get to meet the "real" Chiriko, who played a leaf whistle to
disrupt Amiboshi's tune and thus saving all of the seishi's lives. The
Suzaku summoning ceremony has already failed because it was performed incorrectly
because there was a false suzaku seishi. Taiitsu-kun appears and her face
scares everyone. *so funny* She came to tell Miaka and the others that
there is another way to call Suzaku. They have to obtain the shinzaho,
or holy celestial gem, which is an item left behind by a the Genbu no Miko
when she came and called Genbu. The shinzaho is located in Hokkan country,
to the north. Yui and her Seiryuu shichiseishi will also be trying to get
this item because Amiboshi is dead and they'll need it as well.
Then Taiitsu-kun gives each of the seishi except for Tamahome (probably
because he called her a hag) a "power-up" which is a powerful item that
will increase their particular seishi ability: to Hotohori, a powerful
Deity's sword; to Nuriko, iron bracelets; to Chichiri, a beaded necklace;
to Tasuki, a diamond tessen; to Mitsukake, a jar of healing powder; and
to Chiriko, a scroll.
Taiitsu-kun then kicks
everyone out except for Miaka. Taitsu-kun tells Miaka that she must not
touch any male with love, since the miko must remain a virgin until the
god is called. Pure of heart, mind, body, soul kinda thing. So Miaka tells
tamahome that they shouldn't be in love after tamahome proposes to her
*what bad timing* and both are seriously bummed and it's awkward. Really
really awkward. Nuriko and Tasuki take Miaka to the star Gazing Festival
and they have fun until Miaka sees a boy with a flute. That reminds her
of Amiboshi so she buys flowers and throws into into the river for Amiboshi.
Tamahome sees her and after talking, he finds out what Taitsu-kun said
to Miaka. He understands but isn't happy about it so everything is okay
between them.
Back in the real world, Keisuke reads the story and decides to leave the
library and runs into his friend, Tetsuya. Keisuke owes Tetsuya some yen
so he tries to avoid him but Tetsuya calls out, "Hey, look at that pretty
chick!" and Keisuke falls for it and they meet up and Keisuke tells
Tetsuya about the book and he agrees to help Keisuke research the book.
Back in
the book world, Hotohori gives everyone a large ship so they can sail to
Hokkan country and Hotohori will be staying in Konan because of emperorly
duties. *Aww...no fun for Hotohori* Tasuki is acting all weird and Tamahome
notices. He goes up to Tasuki and asks what wrong and Tasuki denies that
there's something wrong. Light bulb goes off as Tamahome realizes that
Tasuki is a "hammer" or a non swimmer. Tamahome gets his revenge for all
those "mis-aimed" Rekka Shinens and when Tasuki teased Tamahome by saying
Miaka dumped him. He grabs Tasuki and tries to throw him overboard. *Arghs..
I will not kill Tamahome. I will not kill Tamahome.. I....will.....KILL..Tamahome!!*
Miaka pops up and snaps a photo of Tasuki, Tamahome and Nuriko. *Looking
good* and Tasuki freaks out because well, he's never seen his photo and
he rants on about how that was his impostor in the photo and he's the real
one. Miaka takes a group pic with all the Suzaku seishi and gave everyone
one.
Nuriko, Miaka and Tamahome set off for Tamahome's village to pick up his
family so that they can stay at Hotohori's palace where it is safer. tamahome
goes out to shop for presents with Miaka and Nuriko surprises them and
tags along. Tamahome arrives in his village and the scene cuts to Keisuke
dropping the book and saying, "No..it can't be.." Suboshi, out of revenge
for his brother's death, has viciously killed Tamahome's entire family.
Tamahome's father and four younger brothers and sisters are dead.
Tamahome's increased
power then becomes apparent and he becomes the "revenging ogre." Tamahome
is increasing his chi because his desire for revenge is becoming uncontrollable
and unstoppable in his rage. Suboshi gets scared and attacks him and cuts
off his braid. *gasp* And Tamahome stands still throughout the assault.
Finally, he gets into motion and kicks Suboshi's ass good. Nuriko tries
to restrain him, but he still would have killed Suboshi, were it not for
a Seiryuu seishi making her grand appearance, Soi. Soi rescues Suboshi
from Tamahome and takes off in a grand flourish.
Miaka is distraught at this ruthless assault against innocent and helpless
victims and she makes a vow to go fight Yui for the shinzaho. Yui, not
knowing the full story, hears that Miaka has made this decision, and returns
the vow in kind. Yui and Miaka are both determined to get to Hokkan first
and they both leave. Suzaku by boat and Seiryuu by horseback.
The Suzaku trio now return to Hotohori's palace, and the gang sets off
for Hokkan In the real world, Keisuke finds one of Miaka's hairs
in the book, and realizes that he can communicate with her through the
hair. He and Tetsuya, through their research, have found that the miko
of the legend is supposed to be consumed by her respective god after the
summoning ceremony, and he tries to warn Miaka of this. However, Miaka
ignores these warnings, out of loyalty to her seishi. Further, she gets
Tasuki to burn a couple of her hairs, to destroy this, her only link to
her brother and to the real world. Tamahome is surprised that Miaka gave
up her world and loves her even more.
Soon after they set sail, the Suzaku people encounter a tremendous lightning
storm. The ship is burning and Tasuki gets swept overboard. Miaka gets
in after him to try to save him but she doesn't know how to swim either
*sigh* so Tamahome jumps in to save her. Nuriko manages to save Tasuki
by throwing him a rope but he gets swept overboard. The three are
pushed further and further away and the waves cash into them. tasuki cries
and thinks they're dead. He vows their deaths won't be vain when Tamahome
shouts and calls him an idiot *not an idiot!!* and that they're not dead.
The three seishi find their way to a fisherman's cave where they dry off
and recover from the incident. Here Nuriko reveals why he became gay and
a cross dresser and that he's decided to quit being this way.
At the age of ten, Nuriko lost the most precious thing to him in the world:
his nine year old sister Kourin. Nuriko was told to forget about Kourin
but he couldn't so he decided that Kourin would never die as long as he
were there to live her life out for her. So he took her name, wore her
clothes and make up, and basically developed a female mentality in order
to "become" Kourin. This explains his behavior in the past as the court
princess Kourin when we first met Nuriko. But having finally been able
to come to terms with Kourin's death, Nuriko is ready to move on and become
his own person. Lightning strike the cave and the three move outside. Miaka
falls into the water and Tamahome saves her but the waves will sweep them
away when nuriko grabs onto them. Unable to pull them in because he ws
also pushing a rock to keep the cave intact, his bracelets became like
a shield and increased his strength, thus saving everyone. They are rescued
by the others and Tasuki and Tamahome get into another fight upon seeing
each other. Soi makes her grand entrance, revealing she was the one who
caused the lightning storm and that she was a woman. She attacks the seishi
and then Miaka but Miaka uses Hotohori's Deity sword to absorb and reflect
the lightning. Soi is blown away and this mountain is destroyed in the
process, clearing a path to Hokkan.
Upon finally arriving in Hokkan, Miaka and the seishi decide to split up
to increase their chances of finding the shinzaho. Each group takes a flare
with them with which to signal the others. tasuki will go with Mitsukake
because Tasuki was "immature" according to chichiri. Chichiri will be with
Chiriko. *funny names. So amusing when they're together* When Nuriko offers
to accompany Miaka and Tamahome, his offer is refused for fear of two pretty
ladies attracting too many of the wrong kind of attention from the
town drunks. This irks Nuriko, and he hacks his butt-length braid completely
off so as to better resemble a male. everyone is speechless and Miaka asks
why and that Nuriko can no longer cross dress. Nuriko replies that he doesn't
need to and that he'll bury his braid like his sister, Kourin. Finally,
putting his grief for her to rest.
Nuriko, Tamahome, and Miaka are the first to find the shinzaho's whereabouts.
They see a large stone monument with old writing that could tell them to
location of the Shinzaho. While Tamahome is off getting the information
by following a shady man, Nakago sets another Seiryuu seishi, Ashitare,
after Miaka and the Suzaku seishi. Ashitare is a part man part wolf creature
who was born in Hokkan so he tracked them by smell. Nuriko and Miaka are
waiting by a large landmark and Nuriko tells Miaka that he has a secret
but it would be best if Miaka doesn't know. Miaka walks away from the landmark
and Ashitare jumps her. Nuriko tackles Miaka and gets slashed by Ashitare's
claws. They fight and Nuriko injures him and scares him away by lighting
their flare in his face.
Tamahome stumbles upon Yui while he is off alone, and again tries to get
her to give up and come with him. Yui had ditched Suboshi, her bodyguard,
and is alone in the city as well. He tells her that the Suzaku seishi already
know where the Shinzaho is and that the seiryuu have no chance. She seems
to realize that this cannot end well for either side but feels that she's
in too far and cannot stop now. To get Tamahome off her case, she tries
to hurt him by cruelly informing him that he's only a character in a book.
Tamahome is confused by this and asks her what she means but doesn't have
the opportunity to get an answer. Suboshi appears and chases Tamahome off.
Yui tells Nakago that the Suzaku knew the location of the shinzaho but
nakago doesn't seem to be worried.
Later that night, Nuriko confides to Tamahome that he has fallen in love
with Miaka in a totally heterosexual way, having given up the gay cross
dressing life for good. However, being the totally considerate sweetheart
that he is, he promises not to interfere with Miaka and Tamahome's love.
As long as Miaka's happy, he'll be happy for her. They bond and Tamahome
tells Nuriko that even though his speech and manners were feminine, it
feels like Nuriko was an older brother. Nuriko agrees to that since he
is one year older. *Tamahome 17 and Nuriko 18. 17+1=18 duh* Nuriko gets
his Nuriko special and they drink. Miaka overhears this conversation and
she is happy.
The next day, Nuriko volunteers to go and get the shinzaho, located at
the top of Mount Black, while Miaka and Tamahome locate and inform the
others. But once there, Nuriko encounters Ashitare once again. Having been
whipped by Nakago for failing to kill Miaka once, and ticked off at Nuriko
for hurting him, Ashitare does some serious damage to Nuriko. Ashitare
was just as strong as Nuriko, maybe stronger and Ashitare cause fatal wounds.
nuriko tries to out jump Ashitare and Nuriko is punched through the back
and the Suzaku gets a sudden chills. Nuriko flips around with his last
ounce of strength and breaks Ashitare's neck.
Nuriko: "Never underestimate
Nuriko."
before that crack was
heard. Nuriko drops the dead body and looks up into the sky.
Nuriko: "Oh, Kourin,
there you are. How long have you been standing there?"
Nuriko turns and looks
toward the doors leading into the cave where the shinzaho lies. It was
blocked by a huge boulder. He walks over and uses all his strength, begging
Suzaku for more, and lifts and boulder. He steps back and turns and sees
Miaka and tamahome running toward him. He smiles and falls down. Nuriko
dies before the others appear. It's too late for Mitsukake to heal him.
tasuki is crying and screaming at Mitsukake to hurry up and heal Nuriko
but no one will say anything. Miaka is in denial of Nuriko's death and
runs away to be chased by Tamahome. Mitsukake made Nuriko "beautiful" by
using his magic to repair the body and clothes for burial. Tasuki is sitting
alone, crying silently. The other Suzaku seishi and Miaka are forced to
say good-bye to Nuriko and they bury him a the top of Mount Black. Miaka
is given Nuriko's bracelets because she knew Nuriko would want her to have
them. *wahh........*
After having a moment to grieve, Miaka and the remaining seishi enter Mount
Black to get the shinzaho. There they encounter two long dead Genbu seishi,
who have remained in spirit form for the sole purpose of guarding the shinzaho
from unworthy people. After testing Miaka by freezing her body in ice and
Miaka breaking free by using Nuriko's bracelets, the Genbu seishi realize
that Miaka is really a miko of Suzaku and give her the shinzaho.
No sooner have the seishi rejoiced at finally being able to call Suzaku,
do they find out that they have to get the OTHER shinzaho, left by Byakko
no Miko in Sailo country to the west. Much to their dismay, especially
Tamahome's because his plans of marriage and family are delayed even longer,
the group set out again.
As soon as the Suzaku seishi walk out of the cave, the Genbu shinzaho is
literally snatched out of Miaka's hands by none other than Ashitare, who,
although his human half was killed by Nuriko, remains alive in his wolf
form. A distraught Miaka chases after Ashitare the wolf and Miaka is followed
by Tamahome. Miaka loses sight of Ashitare as Tamahome loses sight of Miaka.
Miaka is approached by Taiitsu-kun, who tells her that she does not in
fact have to remain a virgin in order to call Suzaku since Yui wasn't one
since she was raped, and that in order to retrieve the shinzaho from Nakago
she will have to seduce him and take it when his chi is weakened. Miaka
leaves to do this quietly because she feels it was her fought and does
not inform the others of her whereabouts. Tamahome meets up with Taitsu-kun
who tells him that Miaka just wants to be alone because it's a girl thing.
*ahem..* Tamahome then goes back to the others and head to Sailo country.
In the Seiryuu camp, we find that the vision Miaka saw of Taiitsu-kun was
only an illusion, spun by magician and Seiryuu seishi, Tomo.
When Miaka arrives to attempt to seduce Nakago, she finds him waiting for
her. He reveals to her that Yui wasn't raped by those thugs when she first
arrived, but that he let her believe it to turn her against Miaka. Miaka
then spurns his advances and Nakago knocks her around with his chi and
then knocks her out, intending to rape her and thus render her unable to
ever call Suzaku. *so you still do need to be a virgin*
Tamahome, having a funny feeling, leaves the other seishi, promising to
meet them in Sailo. He goes to the Seiryuu camp to find Miaka, sensing
that she might be there but not knowing what she intended to do. Tamahome
arrives to see Nakago exit the tent and nakago brags about how nice Miaka's
body was. Tamahome realizes what Nakago has done to Miaka, and, furious,
he sends a chi blast that actually manages to injure the Kutou shogun.
Nakago's armor is burned off and his shoulder is burned horribly. Soi appears
and rescues Nakago and they ride away. Tamahome runs to the tent and sees
Miaka on the floor. She's unconscious and she wakes up to realize the horror
of what happened to her. She starts crying and screams at Tamahome to not
look at her. After this, he tells Miaka that whatever happened doesn't
matter to him, and that he still wants to be with her. Miaka breaks up
with him anyway, because she feels unworthy and soiled. She then runs off,
leaving him very confused.
Chichiri, Tasuki, Chiriko, and Mitsukake arrive in Sailo country. But it
turns out that Tomo has spun an elaborate illusion, tricking the seishi
into believing that they are in Sailo...when in fact they are in the middle
of the desert. While they think they are safe in an inn, eating, drinking,
*in Tasuki's case, drinking a LOT but it's not real so why is he drunk??*,
and generally being oblivious to the fact that they are just running down
on energy so at night, when the temperature drops drastically, they will
surely die.
Meanwhile, off in the middle of nowhere because she ran away, *the idiot,
always running and getting in trouble but hey, she's the star so whatever*
Miaka is nearly killed by a wild animal, but she's saved by Amiboshi! He
was taken in by a kind couple after nearly drowning in the river, and has
apparently forgotten about his past after drinking a forgetfulness potion
his 'parents' gave him. His new identity is Kaika and he begins to fall
for Miaka and begs her to drink the forgetfulness potion so that she can
stay with him. She considers but declines because of everything that happened.
She felt that she owed it to everyone to not forget what has happened to
Nuriko and Tamahome's family and the other innocents.
Nakago realizes that Amiboshi is still alive and sends his troops to Kaika's
village to trash it and find him. Kaika's surrogate parents are injured.
Amiboshi dispatches easily of the soldiers Nakago sent using his flute.
Then, realizing that Miaka and Tamahome belong together, he tells Miaka
to stay put while he goes to find Tamahome. Miaka feels that it won't work
out so she goes off in the other direction. *BAKA!!*
Back to seiryuu now. Tomo finds out that Nakago failed to rape Miaka because
he was repelled by a red barrier around her body as soon as she lost consciousness.
Intending to do some damage of his own to the Suzaku crew, Tomo creates
the illusion of making Soi look like Miaka. Soi then approaches Tamahome
with the intention of seducing him and weakening his chi, then killing
him. Tamahome, ever the gentleman, refuses her, saying that there's still
a chance that she (Miaka) is still a virgin. At this, Tomo ends the illusion
and attacks Tamahome. Tamahome is strapped by vines and Tomo starts acting
gay towards Tamahome which freaks him out major. Miaka runs into Soi, who
tells her what's going on, and and Miaka wonders why Soi isn't killing
her. *big idiot!! Why would answer ask that? If someone was after you and
they forgot about killing you, don't remind them!!* Soi replies that "If
anything had happen between her and Nakago, Miaka would already be dead."
so Miaka realizes that she wasn't raped and overjoyed. soi pointed out
the direction of the fight between Tomo and Tamahome and that if Miaka
went to Tamahome, both will be in danger instead of one. Miaka ignores
this and runs to her love. Soi watches Miaka's retreating figure and says
that she envies them. *their strong love* Miaka arrives just in time to
see Tamahome fall off a cliff, speared in the chest by Tomo.
Tomo then sends Miaka into an illusion, making her believe she's back home.
She forgets about the events of the Universe of the Four Gods and Yui and
all her friends are there and acting normally, and she's getting
good grades for once! Tomo puts a clone-ish alter ego of himself into the
illusion, as a fellow classmate of Miaka's, and he asks Miaka out. His
intent, of course, is to seduce her and have her willingly lose her virginity
to him so that she cannot call Suzaku. *so illusion rape is like real rape?
huh*
Kaika/Amiboshi, who is witnessing all of this and is unable to reach Miaka
through the illusion because he is strapped by vines, sees his opportunity
as Tomo's concentration was on Miaka and he begins to play his flute and
manages to break through the magic a little. Miaka realizes what's going
on and Tomo's illusionary clone becomes himself and Tomo says "I would
prefer your boyfriend but you'll have to do." *well, something to that
effect* Miaka stabs Tomo with a pencil before he has a chance to rape her.
So a ticked off Tomo attacks Amiboshi for his interference but suboshi
appears, sensing his older brother's danger, kills Tomo.
Amiboshi desperately wants to work on the side of good and put this life
of war behind him with his brother. He begs Suboshi to drink the forgetfulness
broth and come to live with him and his new family. But Suboshi (the poor
sap) is hopelessly in love with Yui and feels he can't leave her, so he
gives the potion to Amiboshi instead, causing him to forget everything.
Suboshi then turns on Miaka, furious at what Yui has told him is all her
fault. He threatens to "mess her up" the same way Yui was. When all seems
hopeless, Miaka is rescued by Tamahome. Yes, Tamahome. Seems he did not
die from his injuries, but was nursed back to health by an elderly couple,
Tokaki and Subaru, former Byakko seishi. Tokaki used to tutor Tamahome
when he was a child, and trained him in the martial arts. Also, with
Tomo's death, the illusion that trapped the other seishi was broken and
they were with them.
Anyhow, Suboshi runs off, taking Amiboshi with him, and returns his brother
to his adoptive parents.
Tokaki and Subaru take everyone back to their place to recuperate. Tokaki
takes Tamahome aside and tells him that after Miaka calls Suzaku she will
have to return to her world without him so he'd better end this relationship
while he still can. The problem of a seishi falling in love with his miko
is that once the animal god was called, the miko's job is over so she must
go home to her world while the seishi stay behind in the real world. This
has happened before when a Byakko seishi had the misfortune of falling
in love with the miko no Byakko 90 years ago and they had to part. So Tamahome
breaks up with Miaka, without telling her why.
The old couple have this adopted daughter named Xifang and she and Miaka
meet and she tells Miaka of an abandoned temple nearby, where if lovers
meet before sunset and kiss, they will never be parted. She also said temple
is overrun by monsters at the moment so no one goes up anymore. They cook
dinner and we get to see how horrible a cook Miaka is. Miaka's food is
terrible and Xifang's is excellent. No one could stomach Miaka's food which
makes her depressed because she's kinda competing with Xifang. Tasuki tries
to make Miaka feel better by saying the soup's excellent but Miaka replies
that Xifang made that. So Tamahome says that Miaka's cooking was bad and
even pig swill tasted better that it and this hurts Miaka even more. Tasuki,
trying to help, shouts, "Hey!! Even though Miaka's cooking SUCKS..she..."
and big sweatdrop on him. *He tried! Not his fault* Miaka just runs away
and everyone is looking at the food. Suddenly, Tamahome orders everyone
to give him everything Miaka made and he starts to eat it all by himself.
Everyone is looking at Tamahome and wondering if the food will kill him.
Xifang goes into Tamahome's room and begins to make the moves on Tamahome
in attempt to replace Miaka. Miaka walks in and sees Tamahome nearly
kissing Xifang, Miaka begs him to meet her at the temple, promising that
if he doesn't show, she'll accept that it's over between them and she won't
bother him any more. Tamahome fights the desire to go for as long as he
can, but at the last minute he tells Tokaki that it's too late, he's already
too much in love with Miaka to end it and with that he races off to the
temple. But he's too late for Miaka is gone but she left her hair ribbon
to let him know she was here.
Miaka had seen Yui and Nakago traveling while she was waiting at the temple
but Nakago spots her there, too, but doesn't say anything about it.
Miaka thinks to herself that if she can just reach Yui and tell her the
truth about Nakago, everything will be okay. So she leaves the temple (since
the sun's just set anyway) and follows them.
We learn that Tatara, the third Byakko seishi -- the one who loved Byakko
no Miko and had to part was kidnapped by the Seiryuu side and held against
his will. Tatara was the one guarding the Byakko shinzaho.
In the real world, Tetsuya and Keisuke are running around trying to locate
the former Byakko no Miko, who is still alive but 105 years old now.
They eventually do find her, dying, while she's watched over by her adopted
grandson.
Miaka has found the Seiryuu's' Place and is sneaking around when she's
discovered by Nakago. She tells him off and lets him know that she plans
to tell Yui the truth about what happened. Nakago doesn't care much; he
just has his newest seishi in tow, Miboshi, perform some magic and take
Miaka's voice away. Then he lets Miaka see Yui but she can't explain.
Yui suddenly seems to warm up to Miaka, apologizing for all she's done
and promising that she'll help Miaka and Tatara escape. Miaka asks Tatara
(who's been chained up to the wall) for the shinzaho, and he grudgingly
gives it to her. But it's a trap. Yui tricks Miaka into giving her the
shinzaho, then locks Tatara and Miaka up while she runs off to the roof
of the building to set up the Seiryuu summoning ceremony.
Tatara frees them both with his seishi powers over plants and while they
are out, Miboshi appears and attacks them. The other seishi, 4 Suzaku and
2 Byakko, arrive on the scene and Miboshi holds Miaka hostage as
a shield. Byakko seishi Subaru uses her seishi power, control over time,
and makes Tokaki and herself younger so they can fight and with Tatara
killing Miboshi, Miaka is freed. But Tatara is over 100 years old and weakening
rapidly. His body looked young but Subaru's magic kept up his youth and
since he was away from the the area where the shinzaho was kept, his strength
was failing and his real age is catching up to him. The strain of his efforts
proves too much and he passes away.
In the real world, at this same moment, Oosugi Suzuno, former Byakko no
Miko, breathes her last as well. Keisuke, Tetsuya, and her adopted grandson
see the spirit of a 15 year old girl run outside to join a 20 year old
Tatara, and the two are finally reunited in death. They all cry as the
two spirits embrace and are reunited forever.
Miboshi is with his dying breath, possesses Chiriko's body
and begins to wreak havoc from there. Chiriko/Miboshi is summoning up huge
monsters to kill the seishi but Chiriko takes Miboshi's prayer wheel *like
a rattle with a sharp pointy end* and stabs himself with it. Repeatedly.
He realizes that if he dies, Miboshi won't have a vessel to inhabit and
thus Miboshi will cease to exist. So Chiriko dies a painful death. *wah..he
was only 13!! and looked even younger!!* Chiriko dies and Tasuki and Mitsukake
stay behind with him while Tamahome, Nuriko, and Miaka try to stop Yui
and the Seiryuu.
Nakago and Soi show up and start attacking everyone. This is just to stall
them and they succeed in keeping the Suzaku back. Nakago then beats up
Chichiri and is fighting Tamahome when he kisses him. *Prob to mess with
him. Hopefully...* Nakago departs so all the 3 Suzaku seishi rush up to
the roof to stop Yui. But it turns out that they were tricked for Yui's
summoning Seiryuu from another rooftop nearby! They're too late as Yui
finishes the summoning incantation and Seiryuu, the blue dragon, appears
in the sky.
Once Yui has chanted the summoning incantation, Seiryuu appears to her
and informs her that she has three wishes, which is granted by saying the
wish and then "kajin." After her three wishes, she is to merge with the
god but she doesn't understand but hey, 3 wishes so she doesn't care. The
entire building begins to collapse. The Suzaku seishi are freaking out
so Chichiri spreads out his kesa and shouts to everybody to get on. They
do, with the exception of Subaru and Tokaki, who remain to make sure all
danger is gone and to bury Tatara.
Miaka wakes up safe and sound at Konan country's palace but back in Kutou,
Yui awakens as well and after promising one of her wishes to Nakago, she
makes her first wish: to seal the powers of Suzaku.
Tamahome and the other seishi immediately feel this effect. Tasuki challenges
Tamahome and Tamahome can't even perform a simple martial artist attack
anymore. Hotohori learns that Kutou is attacking Konan's border towns and
that soon they will have to go to war with Kotou.
Suddenly, we see Tamahome and Tasuki running and screaming in fright. They
mob Chichiri and beg him to cast a spell because...Nuriko's ghost was haunting
them?? Suddenly, a woman appeared who resembled Nuriko *but not that
much so how can they think she's Nuriko?* and we learned that Hotohori's
gotten married to this beautiful woman who hauntingly resembles Nuriko
-- named Houki. Hotohori says that when he felt Nuriko die, *remember sudden
flash of chills?* Nuriko must have led Houki to Hotohori before passing
on. *Remember that Nuriko used to love Hotohori when he was gay so he's
watching out for Hotohori by making him happy with Houki. Houki and "Kourin"
were friends.*
The next day everyone minus Hotohori takes to the battlefield. The remaining
Seiryuu seishi also show up and Nakago lets loose a terrific ki blast that
hits Mitsukake, wounding him pretty badly. Yui, seeing all of this, says
her first wish ought to be enough for Konan's emperor. Then she makes her
second wish: to send her and Miaka back to their world while preventing
Miaka from ever returning to the book world again. A blue light envelops
them both and they disappear.
When Miaka comes to, she is back in her classroom as her school is closing.
She looks around and is absolutely shocked to see that Tamahome has somehow
arrived with her!! She worries and then calls her brother and arranges
for him to bring the two back to their place. There, Miaka and Keisuke
try to sort out what's happened without letting Tamahome know and without
letting their mother know who they're keeping hidden. Tamahome wakes up
and is disoriented. He opens the curtains to see the bright traffic and
street lights as well as the tall skyscrapers. He falls back in surprise
and Miaka enters to explain the situation.
That night, as Tamahome and Miaka embrace, Yui takes a stroll by Miaka's
apartment and catches a glimpse of this from Miaka's window. She's horrified
that her plan to separate Miaka and Tamahome has failed, and runs off.
The next morning, Keisuke and Miaka give Tamahome a makeover to make him
fit in since he was wearing armor and take him out on the town. Keisuke
calls Tetsuya and find out just what Yui's second wish means for Miaka
and Tamahome. He also notices that Tamahome hasn't got a shadow. The line
between the book and real worlds is becoming blurred as the events in Miaka's
world are now being written into the book, as soon as they occur.
Keisuke tells Miaka that Tamahome has got to return to the book, without
her. Tamahome overhears this and finally understands what's going on; that
he's a character in a book, created for the purpose of the Miko. He runs
off away from Miaka, not vice versa. *hehe*
Back on the battlefield, things aren't going great for the Suzaku seishi.
Tasuki attempts to kill Nakago with a sword but Soi takes the blow
for him, becoming fatally wounded in the process. Her last words to him
are "I love you..." and we see a flashback of Soi's life. When Soi was
young, her family sold her and she was being raped and beaten as a little
girl. Nakago, much younger and a soldier then, killed the man tormenting
her and they met. Years later, Soi was discovered to be a Seiryuu shichiseishi
and Soi fell in love with Nakago but Nakago didn't love her.
Tasuki's buddy, Kouji *remember Kouji??* and the rest of the Mt. Reikoku
bandits arrive on the scene to "save their boss" and they are a lot of
help. After Nakago and Suboshi leave because they didn't really need to
win this fight since the suzaku couldn't fight back anyways, Koji and Tasuki
do their lil dance.
Before she left Kotou for her own world, Nakago gave Yui one of his stud
earrings so that she could communicate to him through it. Yui, distressed
that Tamahome has made it into their world, now takes this opportunity
to beg Nakago to come to her and help her. Nakago's presently occupied
on the battlefield, so he sends a very happy Suboshi to help her instead.
While Miaka, Keisuke and Tetsuya have split up looking for Tamahome, Miaka
runs into Yui and Suboshi. Suboshi then tries to kill Miaka, and chases
after her when she runs off.
Meanwhile, Tamahome is moping about being a two-dimensional character and
basically having an identity crisis. But he overhears two actors shooting
a romantic scene for a film, and the lines strike a chord with him: something
along the lines of 'it doesn't matter who I am or where I am, all I can
do is love you...' Well, he's energized by this and goes to try and find
Miaka. And not a moment too soon, as Suboshi had Miaka in his sights and
was about to kill her.
Tamahome yells for Suboshi to stay away from her, and Suboshi takes aim
at him instead. Tamahome barely dodges Suboshi's attacks, since he doesn't
have his powers. Suboshi send his weapons after Tamahome *think ancient
homing missile* and it chases him until Tamahome places himself in between
Suboshi and Suboshi's weapon, throwing himself out of the way at the last
moment. Suboshi says that he saw that trick coming, but as he prepares
to dodge, the spirits of Tamahome's four younger siblings hold on to Suboshi
and he can't get out of the way. He's speared by his own weapon, and dies
clutching Yui's uniform ribbon, his link to her world. He dies and fades
away.
Mitsukake is on the battlefield, tending to the wounded as best he can
with his own injuries. Chichiri stands by to assist him. Mitsukake is terribly
frustrated since he doesn't really have the resources to help anyone since
both his seishi powers and the healing jar's powers are blocked. Chichiri
warns him that he's pushing himself too far, but he's a doctor so he must
do all he can. Suddenly he hears someone cry, "Shoka! Shoka! Hang on!"
and that gets his attention. Apparently this baby girl named Shoka was
somehow injured, and she might not make it without his help. Thinking that
the child is his Shoka's reincarnation, and feeling pretty crappy already
about not being able to be more help, Mitsukake uses all of his life energy
to heal as many people in the vicinity as possible. Chichiri begs him to
stop, but to no avail, and Mitsukake breathes his last. Everyone nearby,
good and bad, is healed of their injuries, and it's not long before the
Konan and Kotou people begin to fight again. This is too much for Chichiri,
and, crying, he screams at everyone to stop wasting their lives like this.
*wahhh again*
Finally, Hotohori gets a report from Tasuki and Koji that things are looking
grim on the battlefield with Kutou's army being larger than Konan's.
Hotohori decides to take to the battlefield himself and he encounters Nakago.
The two exchange words and Nakago reveals that this war is basically about
depleting Kutou's resources so that he can go back and destroy what's left
and that it's not really about conquering or destroying Konan at all. Hotohori
is pretty pissed off that Nakago would do so much damage to both their
nations for such a petty purpose. Then Nakago says that his lack of interest
in this world stems from having seen a better, bigger world for him to
conquer elsewhere. Hotohori realizes that he means Miaka's world, and when
Nakago says, "I'll say 'hi' to your miko for you" Hotohori loses it and
charges Nakago, praying to Suzaku for strength. Nakago gets a flesh wound
from Hotohori's sword, but he shoots out a ki blast that sends Hotohori
flying away.
Keisuke informs Miaka that Mitsukake has died and Hotohori is dying.
Miaka speaks to Ho-ri-sama through the book and begs him to live. We discover
that Houki is pregnant, and Hotohori promises that he'll live long enough
to see his son's birth. But he dies with fond memories of his time
with Miaka and the other seishi and he clutches the polariad photo Miaka
took of all of them in the boat prior to Hokkan..
Yui phones Miaka and tells her to meet her at school. When Miaka does,
she
confronts Yui about her actions. She tells Yui that Nakago did not rape
her but was only manipulating her for his own gains. She shows Yui a letter
written by Okuda Einusuke revealing how his daughter, the former Genbu
no Miko, was in the process of being consumed by Genbu. Yui is a little
shocked by this and insists it's a lie, running off. But after she leaves
she notices that her arm has begun to grow blue scales.
Tamahome writes Miaka a good-bye note as he prepares to return to the book
world but he gets back home just as he's about to leave. She shows him
two rings she bought earlier that day and Tamahome says that he wants to
marry her so they exchange rings and vow their eternal love for one another
and they're married.
Nakago returns to Kotou and kills the Kotou emperor. Then he travels
to Yui and Miaka's world.
Keisuke is reading the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho outside of Miaka's room, realizes
that Nakago is in their world and is with Yui-chan. He tells the others
and Tamahome rushes off the help..
Nakago approaches Yui, who has realized that Miaka was right all along.
She confronts Nakago about this, blaming him for setting her against her
best friend, but Nakago says that all he did was encourage emotions she
was already feeling. After all, she did become Seiryuu no Miko of her own
free will. Nakago asks for the wish Yui promised him, Yui runs off, and
Nakago begins to trash the place. Yui doesn't get too far before tripping
and she sees that scales were growing on her thighs as well. Tamahome meets
up with her and he find Nakago and Nakago begins to beat up on him with
no effort at all. Tamahome isn't landing any hits as Nakago is just slapping
him around. Tokyo is on fire and the police has barricaded off the battle
ground. Miaka runs into the blaze and disappears. Tamahome is getting his
butt kicked and Nakago's chi blast send him flying through a glass window.
He sees an image of Miaka as he's falling and when he falls, he doesn't
get back up.
Miaka finds Yui but she can't reach her because Nakago has place a dome
shaped barrier around Yui. Nakago appears and tell Miaka the fate of Tamahome.
Then he uses his chi to levitate rocks which are aimed at Miaka. he tells
Yui to give him the last wish: to become an all powerful god, or that he'll
kill Miaka. Yui concedes and she says she's sorry and she "Kajins" and
the wish is made and Yui is consumed.
Keisuke's crying to see the hero of the book die, and in desperation he
calls on their last hope; Tasuki and Chichiri. They are standing over Hotohori's
body in his palace paying their last respects when this voice calls to
them from the sky. "Hold on to Miaka's backpack and concentrate!" So they
do, and they are transported to Miaka and Yui's world. tasuki and Chichiri
appear but their powers are still sealed.
Nakago's
convinced he's a god. So he's still beating them pretty badly. Suddenly
a red glow surrounds from Miaka and the three seishi hear the Suzaku summoning
spell being chanted. Apparently Yui's wish was for Miaka to be able to
call Suzaku!!! *yay!!* When she's finished, Tasuki's and Chichiri's powers
are restored and they fight Nakago back. But he's more powerful.
Miaka's first wish: To bring her Yui-chan back. Yui appears from the sky,
floating in a bubble, and Tetsuya catches her as she lands. *cool scene
here.*
Nakago starts hurling debris at Miaka but they are intercepted before they
land...by Nuriko!!! Other debris is deflected by Hotohori, and Chiriko
and Mitsukake also appear to help!
Meanwhile, Tamahome
is off having a near death experience about him marrying Miaka when
he's eventually jolted out of it by Miaka's voice calling for him. So he
gets up and starts fighting Nakago again, with all the seishi offering
their chi to help give him power. And still Nakago is more powerful.
Chiriko comes up with the idea to seal Seiryuu into the scroll that Taiitsu-kun
gave him, and so Miaka's second wish is to seal Seiryuu. Immediately Nakago's
seishi symbol disappears, presumably along with his powers. Tamahome races
up to punch Nakago and now with his own added strength, he punches straight
through Nakago's chest.
This invasion of Nakago causes Tamahome to see glimmers of Nakago's past:
the attempted extermination of his race by the Kotou empire; his mother's
rape by Kutou's soldiers when he was 11 , her death caused by the
violent awakening of his seishi powers; his abuse at the Kutou's emperor's
hands; and his vow to gain revenge on the heaven that caused his hell.
Nakago pissed at Tamahome's knowing his past, and says "It's rude to read
someone else's mind without their permission." Tamahome sheds tears but
not for Nakago as Nakago fades from existence.
The dead seishi, who had possessed the bodies of the Nyan-Nyans in order
to fight, leave their hosts and Miaka makes her final wish; to restore
the world to normal. At this, everyone begins to fade and Miaka is left
alone, with the book lying on the ground in front of her. *Miaka isn't
consumed by Suzaku because her will is strong*
Later, Miaka and Yui write their high school entrance exams and both get
into Yatsubadsi school, not Jonan Academy as they were aiming for. Yui
still has Nakago's stud earring; for some reason it has not disappeared.
She keeps it to remind her of past faults. *which leads into the OVAS*
Keisuke meets up with the high school students and tells Miaka that there
is a new student at his university, one who remembers being one of seven
destined to protect a girl. One who promised to be reunited with her at
any cost. A young man looking eerily like Tamahome comes into view, and
he is wearing Tamahome's wedding ring. Miaka begins to cry as he says,
"Finally, finally I've found you."