Miaka calls out Tamahome's name softly in fear, but says to herself 'No! I will NOT involve him!', and proceeds to defend herself with a club she finds on the ground. She yells insults at the tiger, and it attacks, but before it can hurt Miaka, Tamahome comes with a flying leap, knocks the tiger to the floor. The tiger sees Tamahome's symbol flare and flees. Tamahome turns to Miaka.

Tamahome: Are you alright Miaka?

Miaka: Will you stop it? Stop putting yourself in danger for me!

Tamahome: Why are you saying that? I can't leave you alone Miaka. You see how it can be. I have to be with you.

Miaka: (thinking of Chichiri's warning that there will be victims if she isn't responsible) says: I don't want you to. Please leave me alone!

Tamahome: (shocked and a little hurt, unbelieving, grabs Miaka from behind and holds her tight and says>: Can't I be with you? While you were gone, I wanted to see you so badly. For the 1st time, I was aware of my feelings. I couldn't even focus with you gone. I have to keep you safe.

They turn and face eachother and embrace.

Tamahome: No matter what, don't be away from me.

Miaka (thinking to herself): Tamahome...I want to be..always..in your arms. Surely Tamahome would protect me..probably instead of himself. But Tamahome...Tamahome has a family. If something happened to him, what would happen to them? I don't want the one I love to be involved...

With that, she falls to the ground and pretends to be faint with hunger. Tells Tamahome to go back to Nuriko's horse where there is a bag with snacks in it. Tamahome is suspiscious, but Miaka goes and stands in a patch of light, and reassures him that she will be right there, and as he well knows her appetite, she won't leave, or so he thinks. She keeps a smile on her face until Tamahome leaves, and then her face falls sadly.

Miaka: This is Yui-chan's and my problem. I'm sorry Tamahome.

Unbeknowest to her, Chichiri has been up in the trees the whole time watching and sees her leave. Meanwhile, back at Tamahome's house, Tamahome can't find the snacks and knows he has been tricked. Immediatetly, he gets on a horse to go off and find Miaka. But Nuriko and his sublings come out of the house, Nuriko asks - what about your family?

Tamahome's brother, though, looks up at Tamahome and urges him to go, and says they will see him. Tamahome nods proudly at his brother and tells Nuriko:

Tamahome: So far I've lived only for my family. Until everyone in my family is happy, I thought I should put all my wishes aside. So I paid no attention to women. But suddenly, Miaka appeared. She....Miaka....filled my heart, I love her. So I'll risk my life for her.

With that he leaves quickly to find Miaka. Meanwhile, our Miko has come to rest at the home of a newly wed couple. When she looks at their happiness, she thinks of Tamahome. (wishing for the same) The next morning, she goes on her way, and tells the wife that if Tamahome comes by to give him a message for her.

Sure enough, Tamahome does come by and the woman tells him that Miaka said 'I'll be alright. Don't come after me'. Instead of deterring him, it only propelled him to move faster and stronger in order to find her. In his mind, he asked: 'Why Miaka? Why do you try to keep away from me?'

Miaka has now gotten to the border of Kutou, and with the help of Chichiri who has secretly paralyzed the guards, Miaka tries to pass through the border posing as Seiryuu No Miko when she meets Nakago, the main warrior of Kutou - the most powerful. Miaka tells him she is Seiryuu No Miko and agrees to go with him to Kutou's emperor because she sees that Tamahome has arrived at the border also, and is fighting with the guards to let him pass.

As she is presented to the emperor, she meets Yui. They embrace warmly and emotionally. Yui saying she is glad she still believed in Miaka and that Miaka came for her after all! The emperor asks who is Seiryuu No Miko when Nakago takes the scroll of the 4 Gods that Hotohori gave Miaka to help find the seishi. He has it now in his posession and to protect Konan, Miaka must have it back! The guards surround the girls, but they break free and run to hide.

Tamahome, in the meantime, has broken through the palace gates and is searching for Miaka. He meets up with Nakago and they face off. Tamahome gets a taste of Nakago's great strength when he injures Tamahome's leg with just a simple touch. Chichiri comes to help Tamahome, but he is no match for Nakago who can sense that Chichiri is around somewhere. Chichiri helps Tamahome escape quickly, and then he leaves as well.

Tamahome then finds Yui and Miaka hiding. Yui is overjoyed to see that Tamahome remembers her. In the 3 months she's been in Kutou, and as she read about Miaka's and Tamahome's adventures in the book from before, she has fallen in love with Tamahome, and does not know of Miaka's and Tamahome's love for eachother. Yui goes to get the 4 Gods scroll from Nakago and to tell him NOT to hurt Tamahome or Miaka. While she's gone, Miaka and Tamahome bear all their feelings to eachother.

Tamahome: How come you did this?

Miaka: Because

Tamahome: You say it is hard being protected by me. Why?

Miaka: I can do it all by myself. It's a problem between friends, So - Tamahome -- (Tamahome opens a music box which plays a beautiful melody)

Tamahome: You say it's not my business. You think I'm in trouble because of you. (he grabs her and holds her tight, and kisses her) Even if I am trouble for you, I don't give a damn, because I'm in love with you.

Yui is now at the door and is overhearing everything.

Miaka: You're not trouble for me. Back in my world, I couldn't forget you. That's why I came back. I love you too much to put you in danger.

Tamahome hugs Miaka tight, and they stay like this for a long time as Yui takes all of this in, focusing on the fact that Tamahome loves Miaka, and what she thinks is Miaka's ONLY reason for coming back, Tamahome, not Yui herself. What Yui doesn't know is how much she means to Miaka and that she is the reason Miaka LEFT the book world. Or that upon learning Yui was back in the book world, Miaka came back for her, and NOT just Tamahome.

Yui thinks of the warning Nakago had given her before he gave her the scroll. Yui has 2 slashes on her wrist. Something terrible happened to her to get those slashes. He reminds her of that, of how he found her, and of Miaka was nowhere around. As she thinks of all the pain and suffering she went through, she begins to believe Miaka isn't in the book workd for her, but only for Tamahome.

This is combined with the additional pain she feels since Tamahome doesn't love HER. She makes a decision in her head. Nakago had told her, if she changed her mind, about going back with Miaka with the scroll, that Yui was to meet him at the Seiryuu mausolem. Only seiryuu seishi and miko could be in that place. No other person or seishi could enter, it was impossible.

Yui goes to Miaka and Tamahome and tells them she has the scroll and they leave. Miaka happily hugs Yui, thankful that things are finally ok. But Yui takes Miaka into the Seiryuu Mausolem and Tamahome is locked out. Chichiri shows up and tells him it's a trap and that they have to get inside to help Miaka.

Inside, Yui is unleashing her anger at Miaka. Thrashing Miaka around, and telling her she will take Tamahome away from her. Accusing her of betraying their friendship by not coming back for HER. Miaka can't get a word in edgewise because the mausolem has paralyzed her since she is not of Seiryuu and she is in great pain. Yui takes advtage of Miaka in this position.

Nakago appears and Yui signals for him to blast her. She signals twice and each time Miaka is hurled with great speed against a wall. Miaka is badly inujured but is stunned more by the fact that Yui had been suffering and in pain. She does not understand what happened to Yui. Yui won't even tell her, or let Miaka try to comfort her.

Finally Chichiri shows up and saves Miaka. He, too, is about to be thrashed by Nakago, but at that moment, Tamahome blasts down the door to the mausolem and with great pain and effort, is using all his strength and power to cross the strong force shield preventing him from entering the mausolem. It is a great task but Tamahome is fed by the anger he feels at Nakago for hurting his beloved Miaka.

Tamahome: You BASTARD! What did you do to Miaka????

His symbol blazes and you can see the blood on his body as he battles, Finally he breaks free - pounding battle music is heard - it's a very moving scene - and he punches a powerful attack at Nakago, that sends the blonde, blue eyed Seiryuu warrior to one knee. He has a blue symbol on his head, befitting a seiryuu seishi.

Tamahome then leans down to Miaka and hugs her protectively. 'Miaka, hang on, I'm here', he tells her. Chichiri makes the couple disappear as Nakago gets angry and sends a chi blast. He and Chichiri face off and Chichiri disappears quickly before anything else can be done.

Miaka awakes to find Tamahome leaning down from above her. They are both naked in the same bed and VERY embarassed about it. They squabble a bit, until Taitsukun and the nyan nyan appear. They have healed Miaka and Tamahome of their injuries. Chichiri is with them as well. Afterwards, Miaka is plagued by the memories of Yui's anger and hatred towards her. Taistukunn then shows Miaka and the others what SUPPOSEDLY happened to Yui.

Once pulled into the book, Yui was in Kutou and was attacked by men ready to rape her. They manhandled her. I'll make this whole summary/story short so it doesn't drag - Yui was NEVER raped. Nakago came and saved her in time, but let her go on believeing she had been raped so that it would somehow make her be a better Miko, by strengthening her resolve to be Miaka's (Suzaku No Miko's) enemy. That is why there are slashes on Yui's wrists, because after the 'rape' she tried to commit suicide.

Nakago had told Yui that Miaka betrayed her and now, after hearing Miaka tell Tamahome she came back for him, Yui believes Nakago and turns her back on a friendship that had lasted over 10 years. But Yui doesn't know that the uniforms they wore were what connected the two while Miaka was in the book world, and Yui in the real one.

Yui feels betrayed that Miaka didn't come rescue her. But if Miaka had worn the uniform she would have been capable of communicating with Yui and would have tried to help her. Miaka, though, had assumed Yui was home safe, took off her uniform, and did not know that 3 months would pass in the book world, as she stayed in the real world.

Yui has since sworn to take Tamahome away from Miaka, and is now a bitter enemy of Miaka. Miaka is very depressed upon hearing all this, but Taitsukun shows her all the people who are counting on her. She is no longer JUST Yuuki Miaka, but Suzaku No Miko. She has a country, Konan, to help defend. It is her duty. She hears all this and decides that she MUST gather the seishi, to call Suzaku. By doing that, she can save Konan and get Yui and herself back to the real world.

With this, she also decides to put aside her feelings for Tamahome, because Yui loves him. Tamahome, who tries to hug her, is hurt that she ignores him and does not understand. When they return home to Konan, Hotohori is overjoyed to see Miaka and he hugs her. Tamahome stares angrily into Hotohori's eyes, and the two look at eachother with looks that could KILL.

Later that night, Tamahome barges into Miaka's room telling her they must talk. He finds her chowing down on her world's goodies. He goes ga-ga over the goodies and tries to steal them, but at Miaka's angry 'Tamahome!' yell, he stops and says 'Nope. This is not why I came here'. Dropping the bag he faces Miaka.

Tamahome: Why are you ignoring me?

Miaka: Tamahome....I'll go find Suzaku's seishi tomorrow

Tamahome: What does that have to do with it?

Miaka: I'm Suzaku No Miko. You're a seishi. We need to make a distinction. So without asking me, please do not come into my room..and - (she is interrupted by Tamahome, who grabs her, kisses her, and pins her to the bed.

Miaka: Don't!! Let go!

Tamahome: I won't let go. You're talking nonsense. I can't say I understand.

Miaka: You don't understand?.....Yui is in love with you.

At that moment, Hotohori throws open the door and stares angrily at Tamahome. Whipping out his sword and he points it straight at Tamahome's neck.

Miaka: Hotohori! STOP!

Tamahome puts out his arm to stop her from coming furhter

Hotohori: If you want to talk, I'll listen, but if you give me excuses, I won't forgive you. (speaking to Tamahome)

Tamahome: I'll make no excuses. But let me say this. I love Miaka. So I'm not going to hand her over to anybody.

Both Tamahome and Hotohori face off, there is a battle of wills, neither moving, neither flinching as Hotohori's sword gets close to piercing Tamahome's neck. He then lets down his sword and tells Tamahome he is brave for standing up to an emperor. Hotohori leaves with one last statement for Miaka

Hotohori: Miaka, I am the one who loves you.

He leaves and Tamahome turns superdeformed saying 'I was so scared! Hotohori looked so scary!!!' Miaka, though, begins to yell at him

Miaka: Stupid! You could've gotten yourself KILLED! Do you know that? He's an emperor! The head of this country!

Tamahome then grabs her and sets her on the bed again.

Tamahome: Where you're concerned, do you think I give a damn?

Tamahome's oni (ogre) symbol begins to glow

Tamahome: Do you know what the character on my forehead means?

Miaka: Ogre!

Tamahome: Nope. When I was little, everyone teased me about it, but now, I know it means protecting you, and living for you. (she says this so powerfully, so lovingly, so meaningfully, so...GOSH heck I'd fall in love with him if I were Miaka! ;) )

Miaka's eyes fill with loving tears and she grabs Tamahome in a tight hug, moved and touched by his words. She thinks to herself: 'I can't be apart from him - because I love him SO much.

Miaka: (aloud) Can you be with me forever? I'll never part from you,

Tamahome: Of course, you idiot (said softly, tenderly, lovingly)

Miaka: I have only you. I have only you.

Thinking in her head, she says 'I'm sorry Yui, sorry Hotohori'.