Lady Miaka, the Priestess of Suzaku…
…was captured by Lady Yui, the Priestess of Seiryu.
And then, after finally being reunited with him…
…she was attacked by her beloved Tamahome.
I… I can’t believe this!
With her body and heart both wounded, the Lady Miaka…
…headed back to where Tamahome was in order to learn his true feelings.
“Chichiri, one of the Suzaku Seven, crept through the Kutou palace…”
Miaka’s hiding something.
She couldn’t have gotten hurt like that unless somebody did it to her.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Maybe I should go back.
You’re saying I took the Priestess of Suzaku with me?
Yes, sir!
What are you babbling about?
Huh? G-General!
One of the Suzaku Seven…!
So long, folks!
Somebody! Catch that super deformed general!
He chose to impersonate me… How amusing.
So, Miaka’s escaped.
So it would seem.
But I believe I know where she’s headed.
LEMME GO, DAMN IT!!!
Tasuki, our cover’s blown! We gotta get out of here—
Huh? Where’s Miaka?
SHE did this to me!
Miaka did? I’ve heard of getting careless, but this…!
I told you, I HATE girls! They don’t play fair!
You were just stupid.
Get off my back!
She’s probably headed back to that tree!
We gotta get her back, fast!
She’s in danger by herself!.
Tamahome…
Where are you?
I know you’re out there.
It’s safe now… The soldiers are gone…
I came, just like I promised…
You said we’d meet here, didn’t you?
Please, Tamahome… Come out now.
Unmannered girl!
I’m sorry about before, Miaka.
Tamahome!
Tamahome…!
It must have hurt. I caused you so much suffering.
I only did that to make them think I was on their side.
Really? Is that true, Tamahome?
You really haven’t forgotten all about me?
I haven’t. Why else would I have come here?
Tamahome…!!!
By the way, Miaka…
Chichiri and Tasuki are with you, aren’t they?
Where are they?
No…
No, you’re not the old Tamahome!
How would you know that Tasuki’s here with me, too?!
You’ve never even MET him!
Please, Tamahome, if you’re under some spell, then snap out of it!
Here, look at this!
This is the letter you wrote to me.
I’ve treasured it every moment since you left.
It says that you promised you’d come back!
It says “Wo Ai Ni”… It says “I love you!” doesn’t it?
I wrote this?
Yes! Look! Look at it carefully!
Wo Ai Ni…
Tamahome…
Do you know what this character on my forehead means?
It’s proof that I live to protect you.
That I live only for you!
I know Tamahome will come back to me.
You’ll never, ever leave me?
Of course I won’t.
I finally gathered the Suzaku Seven…
I tried so hard to get them.
Everything worked out.
But now he’s gone…
The Tamahome I knew…
The old Tamahome… He’s gone.
HE’S GONE!!!
Now die.
Tasuki! Are you all right?!
I’m fine, but Miaka’s…!
Miaka! Speak to us!
She’s fainted.
I’m amazed she lasted this long, hurt as bad as she is.
The Suzaku Seven, huh?
You’ve just saved me the trouble of looking for you.
Now I’ll finish you off once and for all!
Tamahome?! What’s wrong with you?!
The one who hurt Miaka’s arm…
Was it you, Tamahome?!
It was, wasn’t it?!
Tasuki, calm down!
Not just her arm! What you did…
After she was so looking forward to seeing you again…
…you went and tore her feelings apart!
No matter what the reason is…
I’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!!
Well, if you won’t forgive me, what are you going to do?
Beat you to a pulp!
The battle between friends has begun.
Fools.
The potion Tamahome swallowed was no mere drug.
It was made from Kodoku.
Kodoku?
Would my calling it a curse be understandable to you, Lady Yui?
The power of the curse controls his memories…
…making him hate the Priestess of Suzaku now.
His personality has been completely remade.
Even the healing powers of Mitsukake of the Suzaku Seven…
…would be of no effect.
The mark of ogre will never appear on Tamahome’s forehead again.
Tasuki, stop! Tamahome’s one of the Suzaku Seven, too!
He’s one of US!
Shut up! Look what he did!
Is that what a friend does?!
Win or lose…
…I’M TAKING HIM ON!!!
Kill the followers of Suzaku.
Kill them!
Tamahome!
Why, you…!!!
Tasuki…
So, you hold your own in a fight with Tamahome, eh?
Impressive…
At this rate, either one could win.
But no matter which it is, the result will be the same.
If they lose even one of their number, they will be powerless.
The Suzaku Seven can never be gathered.
Suzaku will never be summoned.
Now, what will you do, Priestess of Suzaku?
You sure like wavin’ that toy around, don’t you?
If we’re gonna fight with toys…
…then I’ll use this!
REKKA SHINEN!!!
He used his spell… The seal’s been broken?
I thought it would make things more interesting.
I’ve got you now!
The ogre mark isn’t appearing, even though he’s fighting!
Tasuki, stop it!
That may be Tamahome, but it ISN’T Tamahome, you know?!
No, I don’t know! Talk sense, ya damn fool!
Ow! Whaddaya think yer doin’, you…!!!
Rekka Shinen!
Tamahome!
Stop it! Tasuki!
Please don’t kill Tamahome!
Miaka!
If Tamahome… If Tamahome dies, then I’ll… I’ll…!
Please, stop it!
Even after all that he did to her…
How heroic of her.
Even if Tamahome weren’t here, I still would have come back!
You should pay attention!
What are you doing?
All I need to fight you are my bare HANDS!
What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to fight me?
Bare hands are fine for you, huh?
Well, I have no reservations about using MY weapon!
Tasuki! He’ll be killed!
Chichiri! Don’t let him! Please, stop them!
I hate to say it, but even if I interfered now…
…it wouldn’t make any difference, you know?
Tamahome, please! Stop it!
Hm… So, this is it?
You’re…not too bright, are ya?
You… You thought this was all… it would take to beat me…?
Oh, really? Then it’s time to stop playing around.
Chichiri! Take Miaka and get out of here!
Do it while I buy you some time!
But, we can’t…!
You’re not going anywhere.
Nakago…
It’s him! He’s around here someplace!
That guy’s too much trouble, you know?!
Suppressing your life force to hide from me, eh?
Nakago!
So, you’ve finally made your appearance, huh?
I’ll take the chance!
I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!
Fool. You can’t use your power anymore.
He was an annoying distraction, wasn’t he, Tamahome?
Just hang on! We can’t let Tasuki’s sacrifice be wasted, you know?
And you be quiet, too!
The cat! It’s not a servant of Suzaku…
…and it can see on a wavelength that people can’t.
Which might mean…!
Your name’s Chichiri, correct? Just give up.
There’s no way you can break out of this barrier, either.
Let’s hope this works!
What was that?! It sounded like a homo being strangled!
Well, EXCUSE ME for being gay!
Mitsukake, your cat’s floating in midair!
Highness!
It’s talking!
I didn’t know he could.
No! That’s Chichiri’s voice!
I’m using the cat’s form to break through this barrier!
I want you to try to break the barrier from where you are!
There!
Miaka!
The flute…
Would you quit it?
You’re fighting the wrong people.
Exactly. You’re supposed to be fighting ME!
Y-You want ME to break the barrier?
Exactly! Use your flute to crack the Seiryu barrier!
I think you can do it.
Yes, Highness. I’ll give it a try.
All of you, please concentrate on the sounds of the flute.
Now it ends.
I… I think this is it!
Flute music… Chiriko!
Now!
Tasuki! Tasuki! Speak to us!
You did a great job! It’s all right now.
We’ll be home soon, you know?
This always…happens…when I get mixed up…with girls…
That’s why…I hate ‘em…
Tasuki! TASUKI!!!
It’s all right. He’s just unconscious, you know?
He did this for me…
Tamahome… I ran to him, reached out my hand to him.
But… He hurt Tasuki.
He hurt one of his allies!
Face reality, Miaka… He’s totally changed.
No matter how you may scream that you love him…
It won’t reach him. It’ll never reach Tamahome again!
And so…
Goodbye…
Miaka…
A narrow escape. We nearly had them.
Tamahome…
What’s this? Strange…
I just suddenly started to cry.
Is it possible…?
Could his feelings be stronger than the Kodoku?
“The Priestess of Suzaku, sobbing, collapsed against Hotohori’s breast…”
Are you all right, Miaka?
What in the world happened over there?
Where’s Tamahome?
I said… goodbye to him…
I… I went to Tamahome to say goodbye…
With her heart full of wounds that will not close…
…and having lost even the will to live…
…the Lady Miaka is surrounded with kindness by the Emperor Hotohori.
To protect the Lady Miaka’s life…
…Hotohori risks his life and stands before Tamahome.
But this, too, goes against the destiny they share…
…as members of the Suzaku Seven.
Next time, “To Protect You”.
Abandoning everything, for your sake.