Epsiode 78: Beginning Hail

Our story opens about six months after the episode where Tamahome says 'Finally, I've found you.' Tamahome has been reincarnated as Sukunami Taka. A lot of pretty boring things happened in those six months, like our beloved lil' Miaka joining cooking club. The first picture in the manga is her proudly holding a cake she, which we find out, she only really cooked as an excuse to take it to the restaurant her boyfriend, Taka, works . . .

Taka welcomes both Yui and Miaka into the restaurant where he works, but only quickly because his boss apparently hates personal conversations between employees and customers. We find out the whole Universe of the Four God's story through Miaka's flashbacks, and we also find out through the thoughts of Yui and Miaka both, that Taka used to be a character in that book (Tamahome, duh). However, he barely remembers anything about it, save his feelings for Miaka.

While they sit down, Miaka wolfing down both her and Yui's share of free food, these two guys start to flirt with them, and well, what follows is a really funny scene that ends up with Taka getting fired.

So, while walking home with Taka, Miaka gets this strange feeling someone is calling her. (this gets important later on). She apologizes for getting him fired, and he says it was really his boss's fault and not to worry. It turns out he took the cake Miaka made from the garbage where she threw it out and he ate it even though it was both squished and pretty nasty. But he told her it was good, and she said she was practicing for when they get married. Instead of doing what most guys would do when marriage was mentioned (namely, join the Witness Protection Program) he just leans forward to kiss her but ends up kissing her brother instead, who at that moment, chose to show up.

That night, Miaka dreams of Suzaku, and screams, waking her family. The next day, the thought of that dream bugs her, along with finding out she has a school trip to Nara on her birthday, so she can't spend it with Taka. Then she acts out a one-person love scene in her bedroom.

In Nara, Yui and Miaka are surprised by all two members of Keisuke's club, (him, and Taka), who took a field trip that same weekend. Tetsuya came along to flirt with Yui. ;) We also find out Miaka thinks Taka remembers much more then he actually does. This becomes important, too.

Taka tells Miaka to come to the Takamatsu-Zuka park lobby when she gets her free hour. When she gets there, (after Watase-sama's wonderful little note about outdoor sex - buy the manga) she hears Suzaku call her again and follows the sound, out of the lobby. Taka finds her and snaps her out of the trance. "It's dangerous to be out here by yourself! Good thing I found you!", he says.

They can't go back into the lobby, so Taka gives Miaka her present: a beeper. (Very important.) He has one, too, so that they can be connected even though they don't get to spend much time together.

Miaka freaks out (it's so adorable): "I'm so happy! This is the first present you've given me, thank you! I'll take great care of it!"

He responds saying he doesn't want her to go, and they kiss. But suddenly, Miaka sees Suzaku and both she and Taka are engulfed in a bright red glow, but only Miaka is taken away.

Suzaku takes her inside the Takamatsu-Zuka Tomb, so she is surrounded by murals of the 28 constellations, etc. Miaka asks why he is here, considering he granted the wishes and then left her to her own world. Cryptically, Suzaku answers that his wall of the tomb is destroyed, and Miaka remembers Keisuke's lecture about the South wall being broken by thieves. Suzaku tells Miaka she needs to take his place, "For the sake of this world...no, for the sake of protecting the love of you two. I must have your power-------"