The Lady Miaka, having taken up the responsibility…
…of being the Priestess of Suzaku…
…found her heart strongly attracted by the kindness of Tamahome.
Meanwhile, the emperor Hotohori…
…confessed his love and proposed to her.
The Lady Miaka then ran off…
…and confessed to Tamahome how she felt about him.
Because I love you!
Tamahome…
The Lady Miaka then suddenly fell ill…
Miaka…
I’m sorry. I was with her, but…
Tamahome… What happened in the city?!
If you’re to blame, you’ll pay for this!
Why would you go this far for me?! Answer me!
It’s not important…
I won’t accept that!
Because… Because…!
Because I love you!
All I did was save her from some gangsters. That’s all.
Highness.
The Priestess is suffering from exhaustion.
Being The Priestess of Suzaku…
…is putting a great strain on her.
The extreme exertion has made her ill in both body and spirit.
She will recover physically, but as to her spirit, well…
You can’t cure her?!
I’m still not sure.
M-Mom… Big Brother…
Do you want to go back?
To her world?
Tamahome. Nuriko.
Yes?
We have to talk.
What should I do? If we don’t do something…
…Miaka will just get weaker.
In this case, isn’t your only option to send her back to her world?
Nuriko! You…!
But who would know how to cross to another world?
Taiitsukun!
Taiitsukun?!
Yes. The great hermit of Mt. Taikyoku…
…who first gave us Suzaku’s “Universe of the Four Gods”.
Surely Taiitsukun will know a way to send Miaka back to her own world!
Have Suzaku’s “Universe of the Four Gods” brought to me!
Yes, Highness!
Because I love you!
Sorry, I don’t feel the same.
Tamahome!
Where… Where am I?
Oh, yeah. I told Tamahome that I…!
I’m so stupid! I just realized I was in love with him…
…and he rejected me right away!
How should I face him from now on?
Who’s there?
Miaka.
Hotohori!
Are you all right?
Yeah. Just a little tired.
Miaka, you can relax.
We’ve found a way to send you back to your world.
Really?!
We’re going to Taiitsukun.
To Taiitsukun?
To send you back to your world…
…we’ll have to go to Taiitsukun on Mt. Taikyoku.
Supposedly the Priestess’ seven celestial warriors…
…must go there using only their own power.
It’s a bit far, but I swear that…
…Tamahome, Nuriko, and myself will take you there.
But won’t Konan be in danger if I leave?
Never mind that. Forgive me for forcing you into this.
What’s important now is for you to get well.
Hotohori…
I’d like you to promise me something.
A promise?
After you’ve returned to your world and recovered…
…promise me you’ll come back here.
For this country’s sake, as well as for my own.
Hotohori… He really does care about me.
All right, I’ll go back to my world.
I’ll forget about Tamahome.
The next time I see him, I’ll apologize to him.
I’ll say I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused him.
What’s the big idea, looking so upset?!
It’s your fault for rejecting Miaka!
Shut up! It’s none of your business!
Oh, it is! It definitely is!
At this rate, I’m going to lose the emperor forever!
You hear me?! Apologize to Miaka on the trip!
Then I can get His Highness!
You’re so incredibly self-centered!
You’re one to talk! A real man would…
…take responsibility for hurting that girl!
You really like Miaka, don’t you? God, that’s so low-class.
You’re actually jealous of the emperor!
Jealous?! Hah! Me? Don’t be ridiculous!
Miaka and I only met a couple of days ago.
And the thing that I love most right now…
…is cold, hard, cash!
Which means I couldn’t possibly be jealous.
Jealousy, huh?
Highness, are you sure you want to go without a party of guards?
What sort of emperor am I if I can’t walk around my own empire?
But even dressed as a commoner…
…your royal bearing still shines through.
You can’t flatter me with the truth, you know.
I wish he’d get that narcissism under control.
This is so irritating!
I leave things in your hands.
It should be safe this far out.
Awkward…
What should I say?
God, it’s just getting more tense.
I know, I’ll do something to lighten the mood!
I bought a great walking stick today! CANE you believe it?!
I think my fever’s gotten worse. I pushed myself too hard.
Miaka?
Oh, it’s you, Nuriko.
You’re feeling bad, right? Lemme let you in on a secret.
Huh?
There’s a small spring inside this forest.
They say it has the power to cure sickness.
Why don’t you take a dip? It might make you feel better.
Nuriko… Okay, thanks. You’re a nice person, Nuriko.
Don’t tell Tamahome and Hotohori, okay?
Gotcha.
What’s the big idea?!
I have a message from Miaka.
“I’ll be waiting for you at the spring in the forest.” That’s all.
Wh-Why should I go?!
If you’re a real man, you won’t humiliate a woman! Bye, bye…
There it is.
Thank goodness. Now they all won’t have to worry about me anymore.
“The Priestess of Suzaku spied the small spring…
… within the forest and proceeded to undress. “
I started getting a fever a little while ago…
..just like the Priestess of Suzaku.
It’s like when the blood appeared on my uniform before…
And when it got wet.
Whatever happens to the Priestess of Suzaku happens to me as well.
Oh, it’s like a hot spring…
I’m not going because Miaka called me out here.
I’m just going ‘cuz I’m bored.
Miaka!
Run for it, Miaka!
Tamahome? Tamahome! Tamahome!
No… Is he dead? It’s my fault!
Tamahome’s been eaten by a snake!
Don’t go digging my grave.
Tamahome…?
And you call this a snake?
It’s just a rotten old log floating in here.
No kidding!
I didn’t see anything!
Here’s your chance! Apologize to him, Miaka!
Say you’re sorry for saying you loved him.
Say it was just a joke!
I…
I’m sorry!
About before… I’m sorry for being such a jerk.
It was the first time a girl’s ever said she loved me.
I… It’s just… I didn’t know what to say.
For 17 years, all I’ve ever thought about was making money.
It still is, but…
But I’ll help you get to Taiitsukun. Just get well soon.
Tamahome…
Nuriko?!
Darn it, I thought for sure he’d go for it.
Don’t tell me that you…?!
Oh, you tricked me!!!
Thank you!
H-Hold it, lemme go!
Isn’t it great?! Tamahome doesn’t hate me after all!
N-Nothing…
You’re…a…guy?!
Oh, well, the cat’s out of the bag.
Yeah, I’m a guy. What are you gonna say about that?
You’re a guy, and you’re in love with Hotohori?!
And you even kissed Tamahome!
I’ve abandoned the path of manhood for the sake of love!
Oh, I’m getting a headache.
I wonder if I’ll ever get to Taiitsukun’s home safely.
So, the Priestess of Suzaku, eh?
Fascinating. So, you think you can…
…reach Taiitsukun’s abode unharmed, do you?
Oh, I’m so tired…
When are we gonna get to Mt. Taikyoku and Taiitsukun?
I want to go back to my world soon.
All right, let’s get some food at the next village.
All right!
Oh, it’s no use… I’m so tired I have no appetite.
LIAR! Look how much you’ve eaten already!
There, there. She’s sick, remember?
By the way, where’s Hotohori?
Oh? Where could he have gone?
I’ll look for him.
Hotohori…?
Hotohori? What are you doing?
Just looking at the mountains.
Just sitting here, admiring the scenery…
…isn’t something I can normally do.
I see. You must always be busy just being the emperor.
I know what you mean.
Before I came here, all I thought about was passing my exams.
Day after day, I’d just be going to school and cram school all the time.
I was working really hard so my mom would be proud of me.
Your mother…
After my father died when I was fourteen…
…I became emperor under the control of my mother.
You might say I was a puppet. But then my mother died.
And all around me there grew a terrible silence.
I was surrounded by retainers, by many, many people.
But within that silence, I realized how lonely I truly was.
It was as if I were a bird trapped in a cage.
Then you should fly away! Go all over the place!
You’re still young, you know.
You’re a good girl.
Always so cheerful, so free, so warm.
Oh, no. Why am I getting so excited over Hotohori?
I wish we could stay together like this forever.
I’ll get you for this, Miaka!!!
What is Nuriko so upset about?
Tamahome…
My, my… It seems I shall have to test this group.
Hey, Miaka! You sure you want to be walking so fast by yourself?
I’m just fine!
See? I warned you.
You saw, didn’t you?!
I didn’t see anything.
Liar! You saw me naked before, didn’t you?!
God… It’s not like seeing you made me feel anything!
Maybe if you had bigger breasts and acted sexier, I’d see you as a woman.
Tamahome, you’re a jerk!
Nuriko, don’t you find this a bit strange?
Oh, no! I think we make a perfect couple!
That’s not what I meant!
Isn’t it odd that this fog appeared while it’s still afternoon?
Now that you mention it…
I get the feeling we’ve been walking around the same place for a while now.
Your Highness!
Tamahome! Where’s Miaka?
The fog suddenly got thicker and I lost sight of her!
What?!
Why does Tamahome always act like that?
Hotohori treats me much better than he does!
Huh? Where’re the others?
Have I gotten lost?
That wonderful smell is…!
Prime beefsteak with cream sauce!
Consomme soup loaded with vegetables!
Tuna salad! Spaghetti and meat sauce!
And the slightly bittersweet flavor of blueberry sherbert!
I knew it! WOW!!!
What’s this? Hey!
Welcome through the looking glass, Miaka.
Wh-Who…?
“Within the mirror, the Priestess of Suzaku…”
“…saw yet another Priestess of Suzaku.”
“The double looked back at her, smiling faintly.”
You really are a gluttonous girl. I should be ashamed of myself.
An evil double of the Lady Miaka emerges from the mirror…
…and into Hotohori’s arms, intending to kill her three companions.
Meanwhile, locked inside of the mirror in her place…
…the real Lady Miaka makes a fateful decision…
…to save the lives of Tamahome and Hotohori.
Next time, “Even If I Die…”
Hearts which believe can understand each other.