Lady Miaka, the Priestess of Suzaku…
…has arrived in the city of Touran in Hokkan in search of…
…the Shinzaho, an object which will allow her to summon Suzaku.
The Lady Miaka discovered a monument…
…covered with ancient writing inside the city.
Tamahome learned the Shinzaho’s location…
…from a man who understood the writing’s meaning.
On his way back, Tamahome encountered the Lady Yui…
…who is now the Priestess of Seiryu!
A character in a book…?
And at that moment, the Lady Miaka…
I’ve found you!
…was attacked by Ashitare, one of the Seiryu Seven!
DIE!!!
Miaka!!!
Nuriko!
What is that thing?!
It’s a monster!
Nuriko! Look! Look! Look!
The h-h-h-hand…!
One of the Seiryu Seven!
The holy sword! The holy sword!
Where’s Hotohori’s holy sword?!
Old flesh never tastes good. Now it’s your turn!
I left it in the luggage I left with Chichiri!
You did it, Nuriko! He ran away!
Looks like Chirko’s signal flare came in handy.
Nuriko, are you all right?! Hang on!
“Nuriko had used the power of fire to drive Ashitare off…”
“…but he was still wounded. The Priestess escaped unharmed.”
Keisuke! This book you’re reading is bad for my heart!
It’s turning my hair white, man!
Are you okay?
It’s nothing serious. Anyway, I wonder if Tamahome’s all right.
Tamahome…
Hey! Come on, stop!
Let me go!
What do you mean, “a character in a book”?!
What are you saying I am?!
Look, I don’t understand what you said to me, but I do know this:
If you summon Seiryu, you’ll regret it!
Besides that, if I’m not what you want…
…then it’s really Miaka, isn’t it?!
We’ve already learned where the Shinzaho is.
Just forget this and get away from the Seiryu Seven!
There’s still time!
Get away from Lady Yui!
Wait! Tamahome!
Never mind! Let him go!
Lady Yui?!
You love him, Lady Yui, so… So…!
Mind your own business! I don’t feel well.
I’m going back to see Nakago.
Huh? But…
If you summon Seiryu, you’ll regret it!
There’s still time!
There’s still time…
Um, thanks. For saving me before.
What are you talking about?
That’s just what the Suzaku Seven does, right?
I’ll always be ready to protect you.
Nuriko, what’s wrong? You’re acting just like a boy!
Snap out of it!
It may not be like me, but I think this really is the real me.
Because you’re finally over your little sister’s death?
That’s part of it…
And maybe because of how strongly you affected me.
I haven’t done anything.
Wanna know what it was?
It is…
It is…?
…something I won’t say.
Forget it. You don’t have to know.
Nuriko…
I said forget it.
But, this means you don’t want to be a woman and get Hotohori, right?
Hey, that’s right!
His Highness has to have the greatest happiness there is!
But is there any woman besides me…
…who’s as beautiful, modest, and loving?!
I knew you hadn’t really changed.
Looks like he isn’t following me.
Damn you, Suboshi! Next time, I’ll make you sorry!
Who cares about you?! You’re just a character in a book!
What’s that mean? Would Miaka know?
Does she know and is hiding it from me?
Are Miaka and I not meant for each other?
Tamahome!
Tamahome?
Oh, dear! Did I make this snowball a little too big?
Dammit, Nuriko! Don’t do that when a guy’s trying to think!
Sorry, sorry.
Still, I’m glad you’re back in one piece.
So, how’d it go? What about the Shinzaho?
If she doesn’t summon Suzaku…
…you could never spend your life with Miaka!
You’re just a character in a book!
Y-Yeah… I found it.
It’s about 200 leagues away…
…at the top of a mountain called Mt. Koku.
Getting it’ll be simple.
We’d better tell Tasuki and the others right now.
Where’s the signal flare?
Um, about that…
So, the beast man’s weakness is fire…
And then you had the nerve to come crawling back here?!
Do you know what this is, Ashitare?
Nakago, Ashitare’s been burned. That will…
Who was it that saved you from being treated like…
…an animal in that village in the woods of Kutou?
Shall I make you remember?
The snow isn’t letting up.
Lucky for us we got this room!
No, lucky is getting away in one piece…
…from that bruiser you described.
Hey, I happen to be one of the Suzaku Seven, too, you know!
Exactly! Nuriko protected me!
I see…
What?
— Tamahome, what’s….? — Do you…?!
This tea tastes great.
How… How did you get to this world?
No, never mind.
I’m going downstairs to get something stronger to drink.
Tamahome… What happened to him?
I went easy on you for now.
Fail me again and I won’t be so forgiving!
We’re back.
Suboshi. Did you find the Shinzaho?
Well, about that…
Yes, it seems we have.
If you summon Seiryu, you’ll regret it!
I know. I know, but…!
Tamahome told me.
That they’d found the Shinzaho’s location.
I…
I can’t turn back now!
God, I’m pathetic! Letting what she said get to me…
I wonder if Miaka could answer this one?
What did she mean I’m a character in a book?
Ta-ma-ho-me…
Oh, dear! I only meant to give you a little tap!
Why can’t you understand that a little tap for you…
…is a full blown punch for a normal person!
Please, please, please…
So, why the long face, Tama?
Shut up!
Ohh… You get angry so easily!
You’re like a little kid!
Now look….
Hey, Mister! Mix up one part paichu…
…three parts laochu, and four parts shoukouchu.
Oh, and an order of wontons and chonsai with that.
Sure thing.
Oh, thanks.
What’s wrong?
What?
Well, it looked like you were going to ask Miaka something before.
If you keep on being so hesitant with her…
…Miaka’s gonna get taken by somebody else.
There you go. Paichu, laochu, and shoukouchu.
Thanks.
What is that?
A Nuriko Special. Wanna taste?
Uh, sure. So, who’d take her from me?
Well, me, for example…
God, why are you choking?
I know Nuriko said to leave it to him, but I’m still nervous.
You?! I thought you said you loved His Highness!
That’s the woman in me.
It’s strange, you know?
Does cutting your hair really make you feel this different?
Today, I was ready to die to save Miaka.
Ever since I cut my hair…
…I’ve felt myself becoming more and more like a man.
What happened was the first time I realized it.
I think… as a man, I’ve always loved Miaka.
I won’t say.
Was that it?
Nuriko…
But you don’t have to worry. Nothing has changed between us.
I love you, too, Tamahome. I also love His Highness.
And Tasuki. And everybody.
I think of it this way:
I’m proud to have been born one of the seven stars of Suzaku.
That’s why I can finally stop trying to be my sister.
I’m glad that I was born to protect the Priestess of Suzaku.
Because, if I hadn’t, I never would have met you…
…or Miaka or any of the others.
Here you go.
Oh, thanks.
Anyway, I want you to try to get your act together!
Because if Miaka stays in this world forever…
…you two will always be together!
Sorry.
I eavesdropped on you before.
I want Miaka to be happy. With you, I mean.
So I’ll always be watching out for you.
Always.
This is weird. You talk like a woman…
…but I’d swear you sound more like a big brother.
Hey, you’re right! I’m older than you, aren’t I?
Well, then, talk to your big brother! Did something happen?
No, but thank you. I feel better now.
That’s right…
Protecting Miaka.
That’s all I have to concentrate on now.
And be proud to be one of the Suzaku Seven.
All right! That’s the spirit!
So, wanna have a pre-victory bash for getting the Shinzaho?
How about one of that thing you ordered?
A Nuriko Special?
Gimme one of those!
Oh, quiet! That’s too strong for a kid!
Nuriko… Thank you.
I’ll never forget how you feel about us.
It’s cleared up! It’s cleared up!
My head’s killing me…
I’m not surprised.
You were gulping down some pretty strong liquor last night!
Right?
R-Right…
I have to act like I usually do.
Anyway, the problem now is Chichiri and the others.
I guess we’ll have to look for them.
But we have to get to the Shinzaho as soon as we can!
We can’t get sloppy now!
Okay, you and Nuriko will look for Chichiri and the others.
I’ll head out for the Shinzaho ahead of you.
Idiot. I said nothing’s changed between us.
What the heck are you thinking?
You and Miaka look for Chichiri.
I’ll go on ahead to the Shinzaho.
It’s at the top of Mt. Koku, right?
Yeah.
Well, shall we get running?
Be careful.
I’ll be fine, just fine.
Tamahome… He’s so distracted.
That must be it…
When you went with that boy before!
I should have done all I could to stop you!
Wha…?
I’m sorry, Tamahome!
You had to do whatever that guy wanted…
…to find out about the Shinzaho, didn’t you?!
And then he must have…! Must have…!!!
Made you do all sorts of things with him!
Like I could be forced into THAT?!
You mean, you did it anyway?
I didn’t do anything!
That way!
Is that clear, Ashitare?
Follow the Suzaku Seven when they go to the Shinzaho…
Then kill them!
Even if he didn’t tell me to, there’s no way I’d ever forget…
…the scent of the one who did this to me!
I wasn’t going to tell you this, but…
I… ran into Yui before.
Suboshi showed up pretty soon after…
…so we didn’t have much time to talk.
I tried to convince her to come back, but she wouldn’t listen.
I see… So, that’s what happened.
Did Yui look well? Did she say anything?
No, nothing.
Oh.
Yui… We’re drifting even further apart.
I want to fight the Seiryu Seven, but not Yui.
I’ve decided to stay here once I’ve summoned Suzaku.
But I have to get Yui back to our old world. I have to…
I wonder if Tamahome and Miaka have found Chichiri yet.
Miaka, huh…
If Korin had lived, would that have happened to me?
Made to feel love and sorrow by every expression…
…and action of the person I loved…?
Is this it?
Is this where the Shinzaho is?
That monster door is a definite “keep out” sign.
Looks like I was the right one to come here.
You!
I’ve found you, you son of a…!
“On Mt. Koku, before the sealed door leading to the Shinzaho…”
“…Nuriko of the Suzaku Seven met Ashitare of the Seiryu Seven…”
“…and their battle commenced.”
Thank you for leading me to the Shinzaho.
Now I’m going to enjoy killing you and savoring your flesh.
And after that, I shall enjoy devouring…
…the rest of the Suzaku Seven, especially the Priestess of Suzaku!
Don’t make me laugh.
I won’t let a monster like you…
…lay a finger on Miaka or any of my friends!
I’m taking you down myself!. Now come on!
Nuriko. Always at Miaka’s side.
Always looking out for her. Always striving so hard…
An irreplaceable person who protects her as they travel on.
But the time to say goodbye has finally come.
Next time, “Nuriko, Eternal Farewell.”
The tears which accompany it cannot be stopped…