Saved from Kutou by Tamahome and Chichiri…
…the Priestess of Suzaku, Lady Miaka…
…was taken to Taiitsukun’s palace on Mt. Taikyoku to recover.
There, for the first time, she learned of the terrible thing…
…that happened three months before…
…to her best friend, the Lady Yui.
Thanks to Taiitsukun’s mysterious power, the Lady Miaka…
…took her duty to heart and returned safely…
…to Konan with renewed determination.
However, awaiting her there was a battle between…
…the Emperor Hotohori’s and Tamahome’s burning hearts.
There’s only you.
The Lady Miaka finally realized just how strongly…
…her heart was now bound to Tamahome.
“Important Documents Reference Room”
“The Priestess of Suzaku learned how Tamahome felt…”
“…and returned his thoughts in kind…”
Is the Priestess of Suzaku really Miaka?
Why’s she this popular?!
“At that moment, Tamahome sensed a suspicious presence…”
What’s this force I’m sensing…?
Huh? What’s wrong?
Be careful, both of you! I sense an evil presence!
I have a message for the Priestess of Suzaku.
Who are you?!
I am a messenger from the land of Kutou.
We have already advanced on several villages in Konan.
This is common knowledge.
However, if the one member of the Suzaku Seven known as Tamahome…
…is presented to Kutou, we will advance no further.
Send Tamahome to Kutou?
I repeat, if the one member of the Suzaku Seven known as Tamahome…
…is presented to Kutou, we will advance no further.
They’re saying they’ll stop the advance in exchange for Tamahome?
I love Tamahome.
That’s why I’m going to take him from you!
Could that be it? Is Yui…?!
Miaka! What’s that presence I feel?!
The ceiling!
Stop! I said STOP!
How rude! He broke the wall!
YOU broke the wall! He got away.
Tamahome…
Don’t go. You won’t go anywhere, will you?
Your Highness, what’s this about villages being attacked?
It happened yesterday.
Three villages to the south-west, in Juso Prefecture…
…were attacked by soldiers dressed in black.
Fortunately, I heard the casualties were relatively light.
Do you think they may have come to take Tamahome to Kutou?
It’s possible. Tamahome, pay it no mind.
We may be militarily weaker than they are…
…but we won’t give up this easily.
Your Highness, I don’t sense that
As he said. There’s no need to worry now.
Get some rest tonight, both of you.
Right.
Tamahome…?
Damn it! Where they’re attacking is near my village!
Tamahome…
It’s all right. I said I wouldn’t go anywhere.
Get some sleep. I’ll stay here with you tonight.
You really, REALLY won’t go anywhere?
Right.
You don’t trust people much, do you?
Tamahome…
Miaka…
Miaka, stay well…
Master Tamahome?
You’re saying you promise to halt this war if I go with you?
Of course we’ll keep our promise.
Now, then, if you’ll use that horse over there.
Tamahome! Tamahome, where are you?!
What’s wrong, Miaka?
Tamahome’s gone!
Miaka!
What’s wrong? Why are you running around like this?
Hotohori! Tamahome’s… Tamahome’s disappeared!
Do you mean…?!
I found this notebook open on the desk…
…and there’s something written in it…
…but I don’t know how to read this country’s language!
What’s it say?!
Miaka… Tamahome isn’t here anymore.
It says he’s gone to Kutou.
“While I go to Kutou, use this break in the war…”
“…to find the other three of the Suzaku Seven.”
“When they’re all assembled, I swear I’ll come back.”
No! It can’t be! He told me yesterday he wouldn’t go anywhere!
There has to be some mistake!
Hotohori, read it right this time!
Miaka…
Tamahome… You liar…
You’re going to find the other three?
Uh-huh. I’m all rested now.
But even if you look, the copy of the “Universe of the Four Gods”…
…which has the hints for finding them is in the Kutou’s hands.
I’m sorry…
Oh! I wasn’t criticizing you about that…
What’s that?
Taiitsukun…
Instead of using Suzaku’s “Universe of the Four Gods”…
…that hand mirror will tell you if…
…you’re getting close to any of the Suzaku Seven.
I’ll use this to look for them. See you!
Miaka…
What?
No… It’s nothing. Just be careful.
Nice weather today! We don’t get skies this color in Tokyo!
If we come to someplace connected with one of the Suzaku Seven…
…this hand mirror’s supposed to react somehow.
Hey, Miaka!
Mountain!
Mt. Reikaku is up ahead.
I hear there’re mountain bandits there, though.
Relax. We have Chichiri with us.
Huh?
Chi… Chichiri?!
I’m back, you know?
But why?
Because you seemed so depressed, you know?
I’m human, too. Tamahome has sacrificed himself…
…for his country by going to Kutou.
And Miaka is forcing herself to act cheerful in spite of it…
Yet I cannot be at Miaka’s side protecting her in Tamahome’s place!
Well, then, I can take YOUR place for you, Highness, you know?
What?
Like twins, you know? The country’s safe for the time being.
There shouldn’t be any harm in my filling in for you for a bit.
Chichiri… That’s why you…?
I’m… I’m…
I’m more beautiful than that!
My eyes are longer-slitted, and the bridge of my nose is far more graceful!
Most of all, you aren’t sexy enough! Now redo the transformation!
Jeez… I can’t look any more like you than I do now, you know?
Let’s see… Everything from here to here, please!
But…!
Don’t worry. If you want money, here.
Coming right up!
Okay, time to eat! Still, I wonder where Chichiri went.
What a waste, especially with this feast we’ve got!
Miaka, you don’t have to force yourself to be so cheerful.
You’re worried about Tamahome, aren’t you?
Oh, never mind that!
Never mind…? YOU…!
Oh, dear. It must have been rotten.
Are you saying it’s just fine with you that Tamahome’s gone?
Well, he’s gone, so no use crying over it.
Here we go.
All right! It looks great!
Yay! Yay!
Well, maybe it’s not my place to mention it, but…
Miaka, wait! Don’t eat any!
Huh? What?
You idiot! And you ate my portion, too?!
Miaka!
Miaka, wake up! These guys work for the mountain bandits!
Run for it!
Gimme that money!
Miaka!
Gimme that money!
— Hotohori! — Your Highness!
Miaka. Are you all right?
Well, I didn’t get to eat a mouthful, so I’m fine, but Miaka…
Uh, no. I just ate so fast I choked.
Nuriko, water, please?
Huh? You mean Chichiri is taking your place?
Why would he do that?
Because I was worried about you.
And it’s about Tamahome, too.
Oh, no, are you worried about me, too, Hotohori?
I said I was fine.
Oh, this is the note Tamahome left me.
Can you understand what’s written at the very bottom?
It says “I love you.”
It’s how Tamahome feels about you from the bottom of his heart.
To protect his country, his family…
For you, the one he loves more than anything…
…Tamahome went to an enemy nation.
I understand that… I understand that…
That’s why I had to convince myself!. But…
Will you always, ALWAYS stay with me?
You’ll never, ever leave me?
Of course I won’t, you little idiot.
He said he’d stay with me, but…!
I’m sorry.
No, stop!
That much? You really love Tamahome that much?
I know you have no feelings for me.
I know it’s unfair to be doing this now…
But, I… I love you! Since the moment we first met!
MIAKA!!!
Miaka! Your Highness!
Hotohori! Nuriko!
Miaka!
Thank goodness! You’re both all right!
But, what are we doing here?
The last thing I remember was running towards you both…
Hotohori! There’s blood on your arm!
It’s nothing.
When you shielded me before…
MIAKA!!!
I’m right, aren’t I?!
Hello there. Looks like you’re awake now.
Who are you?!
Aw, you mean you haven’t heard of us?
All right, we’ll tell ya! We’re the bandits of Mt. Reikaku!
We helped ourselves to your bags for your toll payment.
Now listen, you better behave, or we’ll make you sorry you didn’t!
Wait, when we were riding before…
The character that appeared was “mountain”…
Which means among these bandits…
…maybe one with the mark on his body. The fifth member…
Anyway, just behave yourselves and do what we say.
Agh! What’s with her?!
Behave…and do… what you say…huh?!
Stop it! Miaka! Quit acting like a barbarian!
Who is this brat?!
Koji!
I came ‘cuz the boss told me to take one of these captives to him.
Since you seem so enthusiastic, I’ll take you!
Miaka!
If you’re gonna take anybody, take me!
It’s all right, Hotohori, Nuriko.
It’s a good chance. I’m trying to see if one of…
…these guys here is the fifth member of the Suzaku Seven.
You two stay here and keep quiet.
You’re hurt, Hotohori, remember?
What the hell are you doin’?! Come on! Step lively!
See you!
Mi—
Hey, Baby. You look real fine.
Why don’t you be a nice gal and serve us drinks?
B-Baby?
It looks like they think we’re both women.
No big surprise there, since we’re both prettier than Miaka is!
We’ll take your chains off.
We gotta do what Miaka said and keep quiet.
You mean behave like a common serving girl?!
Hurry up, over here!
A moment, please…
Shall we go, Nuriko?
There we go, drink up!
Oh, what a marvelous drinker you are!
Please, you have some, too!
Holy… His Highness is really getting into this!
Welcome, Tamahome, warrior of the Suzaku Seven.
You…!
I am Nakago, a celestial warrior like yourself.
For Seiryu, however…
Seiryu? Are you the one who ordered me to come?
What are you gonna do to me now that you brought me here?!
Use you to comfort Lady Yui.
Besides, I like you.
You’re the first person to ever land a hit on me.
Oh? Then you must not be that good after all.
Nakago! What are you doing?!
That didn’t even tickle me!
Everyone, get out! Leave the two of us alone!
As you wish, Priestess of Seiryu.
Are you all right? I’m sorry. I’ll speak to Nakago later.
Never mind me. You have it much worse.
They’re forcing you to be the Priestess of Seiryu, aren’t they?
If we’d saved you before, this wouldn’t have happened.
No, I’m fine… Anyway, I’m surprised Miaka let you leave.
I left without telling her.
I see…
But she’ll be okay.
I know she’ll be able to find the other members of the Suzaku Seven.
Once she has, I’ll take you…
…and Suzaku’s “Universe of the Four Gods” back to Konan with me.
We just have to be patient for a while.
I see…
Miaka, no matter what you try, you’ll fail.
I’ll never let Tamahome go back to you.
“The Priestess of Suzaku…”
“…was finally brought before the bandits’ leader…”
Within the Lady Yui’s flames of rage and grief…
…the Lady Miaka’s heart is now wholly supported…
…by one, all-consuming thought:
Of how much she wants to be with Tamahome.
However, this wish may become an empty one…
…when she is kidnapped by a young man named Genro.
Next time, “Wolf in the Fortress”
Within a maze where the path ahead can’t be seen…