The Shinzaho, needed to summon Suzaku, fell into Nakago’s hands.
Give it back… GIVE IT BACK!!!
Taiitsukun then appeared to tell the Lady Miaka…
…the best way to recover the Shinzaho.
That she must couple with Nakago and weaken his life force.
This time, I… I…!
Miaka!
Tamahome… Forgive me!
However, the Taiitsukun who appeared before the Lady Miaka…
…was an illusion created by Tomo of the Seiryu Seven…
…and the coupling was actually a trap set by Nakago!
Stay away… NO!
Tamahome…!
Hey! What’s happening with Miaka and the others?
Read it out loud! I’m busy here!
Keep quiet!
They’re just traveling around now and there’s nothing to read.
Oh, man…
Miaka! Miaka!
This is strange. Has something happened to Miaka?
Where is she? Where did she go?!
Still so young…
While I don’t prefer this method…
I’ll leave Miaka behind in this world.
…Lady Yui said you weren’t to be killed.
So this is the easiest way to defeat you all.
In coupling with a man…
…the Priestess loses the right to summon the beast god.
The gods seek out a virgin’s unspoiled body.
Her pure blood and unspoiled flesh.
Tell me, were you impressed by our false Taiitsukun?
That was a fake Taiitsukun?! You tricked me…!
We did not lie completely. There is a method of controlling…
…another’s life force based on sexual intercourse.
And you used it on Yui?!
Sadly, no. Lady Yui remains a virgin.
I killed her assailants upon discovering them.
But when she awoke, Lady Yui attempted to kill herself.
She was convinced that they had raped her.
And every day afterward, she wept. Calling out your name…
Miaka… Why didn’t you save me? Miaka… Why?!
And until you were reunited, every day I would say this to her:
Every day…
Miaka… Why? Why?!
That girl betrayed you, Lady Yui.
She denied it, but day after day she wavered a bit more.
Would Miaka only come back to be with Tamahome…
…and not to save me?
Would you do that, Miaka?!
And finally Lady Yui trusted me completely.
Lady Yui has chosen me.
He did it to her…
Took Yui when she was hurt, and made her hate me…
Made her fight me!
He’s the reason she became the Priestess of Seiryu!
Give her back!
Miaka!
Give her back!
Give Yui back to me!
I’ll never forgive you…
I’ll never, EVER forgive you!
Oh? The girl is breaking free of my life force.
So, you even have that ability now…
However…
You will do no more!
Tama…home…
You look about at your limit.
A girl like you probably won’t give me much pleasure.
But what sort of look will that boy have when he finds out?
When he learns another man touched you, the one he loves…
Hey, Chichiri! Let’s rest and wait for Miaka and Tamahome.
You have to hurry, you know?
If you don’t travel by night in the desert…
…you get cooked when the sun rises.
I know that!
But my horse has been refusing to go forward for a while now!
Come on! Are you still mad I stole your carrot before?!
Get going! We’re getting left behind, you stupid horse!
I’m sorry! Please, lemme ride on you! I’m sorry!
Chichiri…
Great. Now what’s wrong?
Look! Over there!
Hm? That’s…!
Sairou?!
It must be it!
What other large city would be out in the middle of this desert?
Let’s check it out, Tasuki.
I said I was sorry!
Would you cut it out?
Yes, come right in, Suzaku Seven.
Once you’ve stepped inside Tomo’s city of mirages…
…you will never be able to escape.
I imagine the Priestess of Suzaku has already fallen into Nakago’s hands.
Miaka!
Tama, it’s you! What are you doing here?
You… Were you with Miaka?
Where is she? Weren’t you with her?!
I can’t understand you!
Lead me to Miaka! Hurry!
Miaka!
MIAKA!
Miaka!
Tamahome…
Didn’t you leave for Sairou with the others before?
Nakago…!
You’re looking well.
I’d never tell your family and one of your friends had just been killed.
You…
…DEMON!
That spirit won’t help you this time, either.
The girl you’re looking for is inside the yurt.
She has such lovely skin…
I thought of her as a child…
…but her body is very much a woman’s.
Miaka…
What… did you do…?!!
What… did you DO to her?!
Y-You…!
Soi!
Nakago! Quickly, get on the horse!
Dammit…!
I…
What was that power?
That’s right! Miaka!
Are you all right? You’d better lie with me tonight…
…and rebuild your life force after I dress your wounds.
Tamahome… I will pay you back for this.
Miaka!
This is the necklace Yuiren made for Miaka…
Mi…!
Who…?
My whole body hurts. Why…?
Of course. He must have…
Nakago must have…!
Don’t… look…
Don’t look at me!
This city’s really lively!
Pardon me.
Is this the Sairou Empire here?
Yes, this is a border city.
Thought so. Pretty close, wasn’t it?
We can wait here for Miaka and Tamahome, you know?
They’re falling deeper and deeper into my spell.
I won’t let you get to the real Sairou!
But I don’t see Tamahome with them.
I’d better find him quickly!
Ch-Chichiri and the others went on ahead of us.
We’d better catch up with them.
Y-You know, ‘cuz I worry about Tasuki getting them into trouble.
Whenever Tasuki causes trouble…
…everyone ends up yelling “Tasuki-te!”, you know? [a Pun on Tasukete — Help!]
Shoulda spent time learning better jokes instead of earning money…
Tamahome…
I’m tired. Can we rest for a minute?
Okay, Miaka. Let’s rest here.
Hang on! I’ll catch us a fresh fish to eat.
Tamahome…
He won’t ask me anything and he hasn’t said anything.
But even if he asked, I couldn’t answer him.
Did I…? Did Nakago really…?!
A soldier has taken off his armor and waited here for you.
Now, why don’t you show him a good time?
I don’t remember. I don’t remember anything!
Maybe nothing happened at all.
No… Nakago would never have just let me go!
He just used me like a thing!
There was no love or desire at all.
He just did it as part of his plan!
No… No!
There you are…
Gotcha!
Miaka, look!
Miaka! What do you think you’re doing?
Cleaning myself!.
Hey! It’s deep over there!
Maybe if I wash myself enough, my body really will be pure again!
Miaka…
How could I have done that with that man?!
With that man!
With THAT man!
Stop it, Miaka! You’re bleeding!
Let me go!
I said let me go!
Sorry. Got a little carried away.
There are times I wonder if SHE’S the strongest one!
Let’s get out, Miaka.
I’ll get a fire going.
It’s really hot out.
The only thing to do until sunset is sleep.
That’s right. I don’t think Nakago and Soi will come…
…while the sun is still up.
I see.
Lady Yui…
Are you angry with me? About last night?
Please believe me!
I wasn’t joking before! I really do love—
Stop that!
You don’t know anything about me!
What were you planning to do if we hadn’t stopped?!
You’re just like those men!
“Those men”…?
You were raped…?
When you came to this world, by men in downtown Kutou?
It can’t be true. It can’t!
You think I would make something like this up?!
If you understand, you’ll stop this.
It was Miaka’s fault!
If I hadn’t helped her to escape from this world…
…I never would have come here myself!.
That’s right… It’s all Miaka’s fault!
And now she and Tamahome are…!
Miaka…
The Priestess of Suzaku caused you this suffering?!
Lady Yui, no matter what happened to you…
…my feelings haven’t changed!
So I swear I’ll never forgive anyone who has caused you pain!
Suboshi… Where are you going?
I’ll be back soon.
Here, Miaka! Doesn’t it smell good?
Eat some, too!
You little…!
I…
Now…
I can’t marry you now, Tamahome.
Miaka…
Okay, he must have joined this society…
1925?! No, no. That’s too recent!
Tamahome tenderly embraces the wounded Lady Miaka to comfort her.
But his gentle embrace only deepens her wounds.
For the first time, the Lady Miaka pushes away from his touch.
Next time, “Bewitched Warmth.”
Standing on the edge of unspeakable grief…