Fushigi Yuugi OVA 2 Episode Synopses

"KAI-JIN!!" Yui Hongo, her blond hair streaming about her face, cries out. "Here and now, borrowing the power of the four gods, I seal the evil god, Tenkou!" The symbol of Genbu shines greenly on her forehead, and green light bursts forth from the heavens. The earth begins trembling, as Genbu appears from the sky. "Lekka Shinen!" Tasuki exclaims, leaping into the air. Flames roar from the Tessen, and combine with the power of Genbu, surrounding Tenkou. "By such a thing," Tenkou laughs calmly, as green light and flames swirl about him. "I, my will . . . by such a thing . . . I will not be sealed by such a thing!!" He turns and glares furiously. Tamahome's symbol blazes on his forehead as he glowers right back at Tenkou. Red Chi glows in his hand. "Disappear." he commands, and the Chi encompasses everything. * * * The god Suzaku appears, shining with red light. "Suzaku No Miko. Beseech me, lend me strength. Make haste." Seven o'clock. Miaka Yuuki awakens from her dream, looking terrified. She sits up, breathing deeply, her head down. A voice calls from downstairs that if she doesn't hurry, she'll be late for school. Taka Sukunami stands calmly at the bus stop, waving at the bus to go ahead without him. Miaka rushes around the corner, school uniform half on, and her breakfast toast in her mouth. When she sees Taka, she grins and runs over to hug him. "Taka! What are you doing here so early? I'm so happy!" "Miaka! Talk or eat, pick one!" Taka jokes. Miaka begins eating furiously. "So THAT comes first." Taka mutters. Miaka and Taka board the crowded bus, standing next to each other. Taka mentions, "Last night, I had a strange dream. But I don't remember much. It was as if something really important flew out of me. It's no big deal." He laughs, but then continues that afterward that it made him really want to see Miaka. Miaka grows silent, watching him sadly. "I wonder what was the something important leaving Taka." She finds it strange, both of them having a disturbing dream on the same day. She recalls that for Taka, the memories of a Seishi exist only as memories of a past life. * * * Miaka and Taka approach the campus of Yotsubadai High School. Taka apologizes for the surprise of walking Miaka to school that morning, but Miaka replies that she'd like such a surprise every morning. "So at last you've made even school a place for dating?" Yui glowers. Miaka and Taka laugh nervously as Yui playfully eyes them. "Today was a coincidence!" Miaka protests. Another friend, Kyo, rushes up and jokingly demands, "Yui-san, are these the two in an indecent lovey relationship?" Yui agrees, commenting that they may have already done "something" that should be hidden. O.o; Taka greets Yui, saying chummily that he always hears about her. Yui replies, "We always hear about you, every day, too!" Suddenly, a young man passes by the group. He quietly murmurs, "Good morning, Yuuki-san." Miaka starts, and glances up at him. "Shigyou-kun." she says. "Good morning, Shigyou-kun!" Kyo eagerly cries in a sugary voice, and runs to join a group of girls who flock around the young man. Yui asks Miaka if she knows the guy, and Miaka answers that Ren Shigyou transferred to her class the week before. Taka notes that he seems to be *rather* popular. Yui comments that he is running for student body president against her. "A week after transferring?" Taka observes with some surprise. "And if he's with Miaka, he's a freshman." "Knowing Shigyou-kun," Miaka says, "He'll probably win." Ren, henceforth occupied with laughing and smiling at the girls surrounding him, suddenly glances backward with a suspicious glare. Taka is waving goodbye to Miaka and leaves. Ren turns to Kyo, and a little over-casually asks if the cool guy is a college student. "Miaka's boyfriend?" Kyo supplies. "He is cool, isn't he? She's so lucky, I wonder where they met?" Ren's eyes narrow as he watches Taka leave. "In a book." he answers. "He appeared from inside a fairy tale." But, miracles that that shouldn't exist. He frowns. * * * Keisuke and Tetsuya, at the college, pore over a book in a cramped little room. "The more we research, the more mysteries we uncover." Tetsuya comments. "Yeah, and since there's only three of us including Taka in this Ancient China Research Club, we only get a small room like this." Keisuke says, stooping to pick a beer from a small fridge. Tetsuya, watching him, asks what all the stuff that happened a year ago means to Keisuke. Keisuke reassures him that he hasn't forgotten. Tetsuya glances up dreamily, and confides that the next time there is hopping into and out of the book, such as in Taka's case, he wants to get pulled in too, so that he can protect his beloved Yui-chan. Keisuke smirks, and they toast with their beer. There is a knock at the door, and the two guys shout, "It's open!" When the door opens, Keisuke looks up, and starts dribbling beer. "Um . . . I'd like to join the club." A beautiful girl with long hair stands shyly at the door, a smile on her face. "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" Keisuke yells. * * * At Yotsubadai High School, the sun is setting, and students begin heading home. Ren Shigyou stands atop the railing of the school roof, the wind ruffling his hair, smirking with narrow eyes as he looks down. "You cannot do anything when you are alone, but when you mass together, you bare your fangs on the weaker than you. The real devil is in humans like those." He laughs to himself. In the locker room, Miaka is changing her shoes, when a girl calls her name and walks up to her. "I got this at the school gate." She hands Miaka a small piece of folded paper, and walks away. Miaka opens it up and reads it - it's a letter telling her to meet up on the school roof, signed Taka. Taka, awaiting on the roof, boredly looks at a message left on his pager: "Meet me on the school roof, signed Miaka." When Miaka opens the door and walks to him, he turns to her. "You're late! So . . . why did you call me out here?" Miaka runs beside him, near the roof railing. "That can't be right." She stops and fishes the note out of her pocket. "The one who gave me the memo was you . . ." Suddenly, Miaka jerks up, hearing a voice inside of her head . . . the same voice as in her dream . . . Suzaku's voice! "Suzaku No Miko . . . Miaka . . . beseech me! Take the 'Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho' into thy hands, just this once." "Miaka . . ." Taka is watching her intently. "What's wrong?" They are interrupted when a girl steps behind them. "Yuuki-san," the girl calls, "What are you doing here?" Miaka recognizes Kyo. A young man steps behind Kyo. "You were so friendly greeting Shigyou-kun this morning." More students line up behind them. "Shigyou-kun is so kind, he even greets girls like you! Don't get so stuck up." "What!" Miaka gasps. "You have a proper boyfriend," the students continue, "But if it's a man, you put on a good face." Miaka's eyes widen with hurt. Taka, his face darkening, says in disgust, "Miaka, let's go." and starts to lead her away. Before he can get very far, the students rush at Taka, and shove him away from Miaka. They pin him against the railing, and he is unable to move. Vainly he struggles, but to no avail. "Run, Miaka!" he yells. "These people . . . they're not normal!!" "Taka!" Miaka screams, and tries running to help him. Before she can, more students rush up behind her and seize her by the arms. "See?" Kyo sneers. "Living in a community, such disorderly behavior isn't allowed!" A male classmate walks up to the captured Miaka. "For such impure actions, a fitting punishment should be bestowed!" he growls. He reaches out a hand, and clamps it down fiercely on Miaka's chest. Miaka screams in pain. "Miaka!" Taka cries. Roaring, he starts fighting his way through the students pinning him. He stops in horror when the classmate lifts Miaka over his head. "Catch!" the boy yells, and with all his might, hurls Miaka completely over the roof. * * * "And so," Keisuke says, placing his finger lightly on a page of a book, "This is the 'Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho'. And you probably won't believe this, but my younger sister was a Miko inside that book." Keisuke grins widely. The woman, Miiru Kamishiro, smiles in return. "She became Suzaku No Miko, correct?" Keisuke and Tetsuya both sit up in surprise. "You mean . . . you believe a story like this!?" Miiru blinks, her brows drawing together. "Is it a lie?" she questions, her eyes becoming disappointed. "N-no, it's not! But . . . you're the first to believe it from the start, Kamishiro-san." Keisuke explains. Miiru leans forward. "To disbelieve it!" she says. "If you can only believe in your world - that is more strange." Her eyes narrow. * * * Miaka, screaming, begins plummeting to the ground. "MIAKAA!!" Taka yells, rushing to the railing. In a single bound, he leaps over the roof, and dives after her. Reaching out with all his might, Taka catches Miaka's falling form in his arms and covers her body tightly with his, so he would hit the pavement below first. Closer and closer the two plunge. "It's no good!" Taka thinks, preparing for the shock of the impact. Suddenly, their velocity is slowed, and again Suzaku's voice calls out to them. "Miko . . . beseech me. Seek the 'Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho'." And then, brilliant red light bursts from the ground and bathes them completely. * * * Yui yanks her shoes out of her locker, shaking her head. "That little bitch went home ahead of me!" she mutters to herself. "Geez, she must have gone on a date. When you get a man, this is what happens! She doesn't respect a woman's friendship." Yui begins striding towards the door. The red glow from outside illuminates the room, enveloping it in bright light. Yui's eyes widen as she turns and stares outside. "This . . . this red light!" Outside, Miaka and Taka vanish, as the red light slowly fades away. Yui walks over to the point where they disappeared. "That was definitely the light of Suzaku!" "Hongo-san!" calls a voice behind Yui. She turns to see Ren Shigyou and his group of admirers behind her. "What's wrong?" he smiles. "N - nothing!" blurts Yui. "Really?" Ren grins. "You're running for vice president in tomorrow's election, right? Both of us freshmen . . . best of luck to us!" He waves his hand, and turns to leave. Yui watches Ren and his followers leave, a suspicious look on her face. A glowing light in front of her catches her attention. On the ground before her lies a red scroll, shining with light. * * * Later that evening, Yui desperately contacts Keisuke on the phone. "Those two were probably . . . again!" "There's no mistake, right? As soon as I take care of my mother, I'll be on my way!" "I must show you the scroll, too!" Yui cries. * * * Miaka and Taka are surrounded by wilderness. "This is inside the book?" Taka questions. "Yeah. I've told you about it before, right?" Miaka says. "This is where we first met." "I sort of feel like that." says Taka. "But the people here - they're like monsters!" He calmly stands and watches a huge monster loom behind him. "RUN!" Miaka screams. Just then, a blast of fire blazes forth, toasting both the monster - and Taka! ^v^ "That fire!" Miaka cries. "Tasuki!" It's the man with the fan, all right! Before them stands Tasuki, Tessen in hand. (Hey, a jingle! 'The man with the fan with the Tessen in his hand'!!) "Man, it's become a dangerous world!" he observes, smirking. "To have monsters like that runnin' around Konan!" He jumps down in front of the couple. "It's Miaka and Tama!" He chuckles (very kawaii) and comments, "You really burn good, as usual!" "Bastard!!" Taka, lying on a smoking heap on the ground, jumps to his feet and grabs Tasuki by the collar. "Who the hell are you? Burning people all of a sudden!" "Yo," Tasuki says to Miaka, very confused. "Is he doin' some kinda drugs again? Or has he lost it already?" "No," Miaka smiles patiently. "It's not that." The three of them sit down, and Miaka explains how Taka came to her world. "Really?" Tasuki says. "He finally met you in your world? It must be hard. But, it's real sad that you even forgot your friends." "I feel like this isn't the first time, somehow, but no matter what . . ." Taka sighs. Tasuki, being a brat as usual, begins lying teasingly to Taka of embarrassing things that he did (which, of course, he can't remember! ^_^;) Miaka, desperate, keeps claiming, "No! You didn't!" She sighs. "I wish Chichiri was here at a time like this." "DAAAAA!!" Chichiri pops up, with Tama-neko on his shoulder. Miaka cries out in joy, but Taka can only stare. "*More* weird things!" he groans. "Hurry up and get it out, no da!" Chichiri says to the squatting Tasuki. He leans over and begins poking into the folds of Tasuki's clothing. "WHAT!" Tasuki yells. "Stop that! Don't go touchin' me in weird places!" Chichiri finally finds what he was looking for, a small blue globe. Chichiri hands it to Taka. "Oh! That's what you were looking for!" Tasuki says. Taka takes the globe in his hand. It begins shining, and he is flooded with a backlash of memories. He remembers the time in Kutou when he had been drugged, and had battled Tasuki. "I remember now!" he looks up and smiles. "Tasuki!" Taka grabs Tasuki's collar, and starts yelling at him for teasing him before. "Oh - OH! *REAL* moving reunion, isn't it?" Tasuki shouts back, and soon the two are fighting just like in the old days. ^_^; "Chichiri, what was that stone?" Miaka asks. "It's Tamahome's globe of memory, no da. That time, in order for Tamahome to get to your world, his memories were sealed in seven globes. That was one of them, no da. Tasuki didn't realize immediately what it was." Chichiri replies. "That stuff happened two years ago!" Tasuki yells. "Anyone'd forget it by now!" Miaka is surprised to hear that so much time has passed. Chichiri tosses his Kasa up in the air, saying that it can be explained better on Mount Taikyoku, where his stone is. The Kasa glows, and they are surrounded by red light. * * * Back at Yotsubadai High School, it is time for the candidates running in the school election to make their speeches. Yui hasn't arrived, and the students discuss dropping her from the ballot. Ren calms them, stating politely that the speech does not mark the eligibility of the candidate. "A democratic election isn't like that, right?" * * * Miaka and the three Seishi arrive at Mount Taikyoku. Tasuki is amazed with the beauty of the mountain, as it's his first time there. Taka tries, but can't remember where they are. The spirits of the dead Suzaku Seishi appear, smiling at them. "Tamahome, can you not remember me as well?" Hotohori asks. "That's heartless!" Nuriko teases. "It's been a while, Tasuki-san!" Chiriko cries in joy. "Have you all been well?" Mitsukake inquires. "Everyone!!" Miaka yells, and rushes forward to hug them. Of course, she falls right through them, and lands with a thud on the ground. "Geez! We're dead, you know!" Nuriko laughs. Taka's cry distracts their attention. "S-S-Sunakake-babaa!!" Taiitsu-kun has appeared in front of him, and he screams in fear, clinging to Tasuki. Tasuki laughs about how bad it is that Tama lost his memories, because he'll have to get used to Taiitsu-kun all over again! Taiitsu-kun smiles at Miaka. "It seems you were able to meet the reborn Tamahome, after all, Miaka!" * * * Thunder rumbles outside the high school as the presidential speeches begin. Ren Shigyou is first, and he steps over to the podium. Naturally, he makes quite a stir with the students, who start screaming about how wonderful he is. Ren looks up, and announces calmly, "I am the new student body president." (~Take note, kiddies! Now *that's* how to begin an election speech!! Ahem - not much for beating around the bush, is he? ^v^~) * * * Taka takes Chichiri's globe in his hand. Again, the globe glows and he is filled with memory. He recalls the time when he broke into the Seiryuu masoleum and was covered with wounds rescuing Miaka from Nakago. Miaka, excited, cries to the others, "If you hurry and give all of your globes to Taka, all his memories will be restored!" The Seishi glance at each other, and turn to her sadly. "Sorry Miaka," Nuriko says gently, "We don't have them." Miaka draws back in surprise. Taiitsu-kun, seeing Miaka's expression, says she will explain. * * * (~Editors' note: To avoid confusion, and for continuity's sake, we have decided to edit the ending of the synopsis slightly. The following scenes in the episode feature a constant shifting back between Ren and Taiitsu-kun, at the end of every single sentence they speak. Rather then shift back and forth in the synopsis, we have taken their speeches and compiled them together. So, despite the fact that here they follow one another, in the actual episode itself, the speeches take place simotaneously. Got it? No? Okay!~) Ren continues his presidential speech. "Because of regulations, instuctors take charge of you. In the name of guidance, they even inflict physical punishment. You must dislike it. You'd want to change the world as you wish, wouldn't you? You think you don't have such power, so you are resigned. From this moment on, you can be reborn!" (The teachers' expressions are quite funny to watch while he's saying this! ^v^~) Ren goes on. "All obstacles will be done away with. Let me hear your hidden voices inside your hearts. To create a new era, each person adds strength. Lend me your strength. Now, let's go together! For the new battle!!" Ren's eyes gleam with violet light. The utterly zombified students just applause. In the shadows behind Ren, Tenkou appears. He snickers, watching. * * * " . . . into your desired forms." Taiitsu-kun finishes. "Why can't everyone be reborn?" Miaka cries. "Because there is an evil spirit blocking the way." answers Taiitsu-kun. "The evil thing deep deep within people, he calls it out and increases it. That eventually becomes a struggle. It is because they believe that in doing so, they will gain happiness. Suzaku is seeking your strength. Put your strength together once more. For the new battle!!" Suddenly, there is a huge explosion in the very center of Mount Taikyoku. Light fills everything, and the mountains begin to crumble. Earthquakes begin tearing apart the earth, and smoke fills the air. The Seishi begin to panic as the mountains surrounding them begin shattering to pieces. "This much!" Taiitsu-kun exclaims. "So he has gained THIS much power!!" Light explodes behind her. "Taiitsu-kun!" Miaka cries, and tries running to her. Then, she gets caught in the flying debris, and begins screaming in pain. Tasuki rushes to rescue her. "AAAAARRRRHHHH - MIIIIIIAAAAAKAAAAA!!" He reaches out his hands.

Miaka and her Seishi stand on Mount Taikyoku, listening to Taiitsu-kun. Miaka whispers to her, "What do you mean?" "I will explain." Taiitsu-kun replies. "There are seven globes of memory in all. Right now, two have been returned to Tamahome . . . Chichiri's and Tasuki's, because both of them exist. However, everyone else still cannot be reborn into their new desired forms. It is all due to the interference of an evil god's powers." "'Interference'?" Miaka gasps. "What do you mean, 'an evil god's powers'?" "What happens if we don't find those stones?" Tasuki asks. "More than not being able to find them, if they fall into the hands of this evil god . . . if the evil god's power increases without Tamahome regaining his memory, he will cease to exist." Taka's eyes widen with fear. "I'll . . . disappear?!" Suddenly, there is a huge explosion in the very center of Mount Taikyoku. Light fills everything, and the mountains begin to crumble. Earthquakes begin tearing apart the earth, and smoke fills the air. The Seishi begin to panic as the mountains surrounding them begin shattering to pieces. "This much!" Taiitsu-kun exclaims. "So he has gained THIS much power!!" Light explodes behind her. "Taiitsu-kun!" Miaka cries, and tries running to her. Then, she gets caught in the flying debris, and begins screaming in pain. Tasuki rushes to rescue her. "AAAAARRRRHHHH - MIIIIIIAAAAAKAAAAA!!" He reaches out his hands. * * * In a warm, secluded forest, a calm lake lies shining in the sun. In a moment, the surface of the lake is broken as Miaka and Tasuki plunge into the water. Tasuki gulps in air as he pulls himself to the surface of the water, and carries Miaka with him as he swims towards the shore. "Miaka . . . we're saved. Are you okay?" He picks Miaka up and lays her on the ground. With a start, he realizes that her eyes are closed, and she's not breathing. Tasuki inhales sharply, as panic rises in him. "Waitaminnit, Miaka! Open your eyes! Miaka!!" He shakes her, but she doesn't move. Finally, Tasuki takes a deep breath, and covers Miaka's mouth with his own. After a moment, Miaka makes a slight movement, and begins softly coughing. Tasuki tips her head up so she can breathe, and a tender smile crosses his face. "Good," he murmurs to her, "Looks like you didn't swallow too much water." Miaka coughs a little more, and takes a deeper breath, as Tasuki wipes the water off her face. When his gaze falls on her lips, which had turned red from the pressure of his own, a blush crosses his face, and his hand comes to a rest on her cheek. "Miaka . . ." Suddenly, *another* hand comes to rest on Tasuki's, and a blushing Chichiri leans forward. "DAAAAAAA!!" he sighs. Tasuki lets out a yowl of surprise, and leaps backwards into the lake. "You IDIOT!! Chichiri, don't scare me like that!" he yells furiously. Chichiri just sits on the bank, grinning widely at Tasuki. He leans Miaka gently against him, as she opens her eyes and sees him. "Chichiri . . ." "It's all right, na no da." he says. He's still got that huge smile on his face, as Taka's voice reaches them, calling Miaka's name. "Taka!" Miaka cries in delight, and jumps to her feet as he appears. After embracing her, Taka says, "Miaka! Everyone! Are you all right?" "We got scattered, but we're all right, na no da." Chichiri says. "Taiitsu-kun transported us with her powers in that explosion. Mount Taikyoku was covered in dark clouds, and there wasn't anything left." Tasuki, still sitting in the water, quietly observes Miaka and Taka. While everyone's attention is distracted, he thoughtfully puts his fingers to his lips. (~Might we add that he looks incredibly sad and sweet!~) "Where are we?" Taka asks, looking around. "Taichi province, in Konan." Chichiri replies. Miaka remembers Taiitsu-kun's words to her: "Miaka, I'll leave the Seishi and everything else to you." Coming to an abrupt decision, Miaka turns to them and says, "The Palace . . . let's go to the Palace. We *have* to find the globes. We can't let the evil god have his way." "Good! That's exactly right, no da!" Chichiri agrees. He turns to the lake. "Tasuki!" "Yeah!" Tasuki yells, raising his arm. "No problem! We won't get anywhere standing around here!" "Tasuki . . ." Chichiri wonders, "Since when can you swim?" Tasuki blinks in surprise, realizing where he is, and sinks like a rock to the bottom. * * * It is after the school election at Yatsubodai High School, and the results are posted. Ren Shigyou is the Student Body President, with Yui Hongo as Vice President. "Is this your work?" Yui asks him, as the two stand in a dark room in the school. Ren stands at the window, watching the sun set. "What do you mean?" he asks, not turning around. "Don't play stupid. Why am I the Vice President?" Yui persists. "Because you were running for office, weren't you?" Ren replies. "Okay, I see." Yui mutters, turning away. "It's just a waste of my time to ask." She begins walking away. "Hongo-san, it's getting dark. Shall I walk you home?" Ren calls after her. "Goodbye." Yui walks out the door. Finally, Ren turns from the window. His eyes begin to glow. Yui walks slowly down the stairs, heading for the exit on the main floor of the school. Windows line the walls, letting in the evening light. As Yui turns a corner to descend another flight of stairs, the row of windows suddenly shatters behind her. The force of the explosion throws Yui against the railing, which she clings to as shards of sharp glass go flying about her. Several pieces slice across her flesh and become embedded in her uniform. She trembles as blood drips on the floor. "How dangerous!" Ren comments, as he comes down the stairs behind Yui. He calmly walks on by her crumpled form, inquiring placidly, "Are you hurt? Please be careful . . . so you won't be consumed by the blue dragon again!" Yui jerks up her head at his words. "You!" she gasps. "Who in the world are you?!" "Well, since you asked, I shall tell you." As he turns to smile at her, his short hair flows into a long ponytail, and his school uniform is replaced with elegant Chinese robes. "I am Renhou. Your friends are my enemies." Yui chokes as she looks at him, and falls to the floor, whispering Miaka's name. The rings rattle on Chichiri's staff, as Miaka and her friends are teleported to the entrance of the Palace at Konan. It looms before them, and Miaka breathes in wonder. "We're here! It's been such a long time, but it hasn't changed at all!" "The fighting of two years ago is already becoming a thing of the past, no da." Chichiri comments. Taka is also quite impressed. "WOW! Incredible! It's like ancient China!" Tasuki laughs at him. "Man, you're acting like you've never been here before! You're a pain! Can't you remember a little more?" "Miaka!" calls a voice from overhead. In a moment, Nyan-Nyan appears and flies down to give Miaka a hug. Miaka says that she's glad to see her, since she wasn't at Mount Taikyoku. Hotohori's Prime Minister and advisors round a corner of the Palace, and when they see the group, rush up to them excitedly. "Chichiri-sama! Tamahome-sama! And Suzaku No Miko-sama, too!" They all crowd around, talking and laughing. Tasuki watches them quietly, observing their turned backs. It is only several moments later that the Prime Minister notices him, saying "Oh! And Tasuki-sama, too!" Tasuki looks away. "That's late." * * * In the Palace, everyone dines while discussing Konan and the current situation with Taka. The Prime Minister admits he hasn't seen a stone, but informs everyone at the Palace to search. Then, turning to Chichiri, he invites him to stay for a while. "DA!" Chichiri says in surprise. "Here? You mean at the Palace, no da?" "We are doing our best to rebuild this country." the Prime Minister says, "But we still lack something in giving people heart. Konan is still without a leader." "What happened to Houki-san?" Tasuki interjects. "The one that really looks like Nuriko." It turns out that Houki has been ill for a year and a half since bearing the Crown Prince. She has never even spoken since that time. Miaka gets up and asks is she can visit Houki. * * * Miaka and the Seishi approach Houki's room. When they open the door, a surprising sight awaits them. Houki lies weakly in bed, her eyes closed. Hotohori's spirit sits on the edge of the bed, sadly watching her. He tries to touch her face, but his hands pass right through. "I cannot even touch her." Hotohori murmurs. Nyan-Nyan, looking over Miaka's shoulder, says sorrowfully, "It was the hardship. She couldn't bear the grief of losing Hotohori. She really, really loved him." "Houki," Hotohori whispers, "I'm so sorry." The door to the room closes. * * * "Let's leave them alone for now, no da." Chichiri says. "The Emperor is here because of Taiitsu-kun's power." explains Nyan-Nyan. "Everyone else should be back at their own homes." It is decided that they will continue looking for the stone at the Palace. Miaka asks Chichiri if he can use his powers to find it, but he regrets that his spells can't be used for this. Tasuki shrugs. "Oh well. Then we'll just have to hit one room at a time." His attention is distracted as there is a shuffling of footsteps, and something bonks smack into his leg. Tasuki shouts with pain, and everyone observes the small child that had run into him. In fury, Tasuki swoops the kid up in his arms, yelling, "You rock-headed shitty BRAT!!" "Your majesty!" A palace attendant runs up to the child. Tasuki gapes at the boy, suddenly realizing who he is. Then he quickly comments, "CUUUUTE! What I just said is a secret to your daddy!!" "'Your highness'?" Miaka repeats. "It's Hotohori's child, na no da." Chichiri confirms. "No way!" Miaka squeals, looking at the little boy, who is standing with a teddy bear clasped firmly in his tiny hands. "He is really cute! He's Hotohori and Houki-san's child, after all!" She bends down, and begins talking to the boy. "I gave that teddy to your father a long time ago, you know. Don't worry, I won't take it. What's your name?" The child, however, is completely silent. Tasuki leans over and whispers, "Makes ya wanna hit him, huh?" The Prime Minister explains to her that it's no good, that Prince Boushin doesn't speak a word. "Like his mother, he sealed his lips. But, he does understand our words." "HOW TERRIBLE!" Hotohori yells at the top of his lungs, looming over Miaka's shoulder. "Yaaaaaahhhh!!" she screams. "Hotohori, don't pop up all of a sudden!" Boushin blinks, of course not seeing the spirit of his father, who leans over and looks him straight in the eye. "Can you not see me?" Hotohori asks. "You resemble me as a child. So adorable, intelligent, and well-advanced in virtue and talent!" (^v^) Miaka and her friends splutter a bit hearing this. (~Can we blame them?~) Nyan-Nyan spins around, suddenly sensing an evil presence, and yells to everyone to get away from the doll. Before anyone can move, the seams of the teddy bear split, and a huge tentacled monster erupts from inside. The tentacles wrap tightly around everyone, pinning them helpless. Miaka, cringing in pain, gasps, "No, Boushin! Please!" The tentacle tightens its grip on her, and Miaka screams. Everyone cries to Boushin to put the doll down, but he doesn't move. Neither Chichiri nor Tasuki can use their powers to hit the monster, or Boushin will be harmed as well. The ugly fanged monster rears up, and dives for the small boy. Hotohori, seeing his son in danger, reaches for him, calling, "BOUSHIIIIN!" All of a sudden, Boushin begins glowing with red light, and he leaps into the air. The shining Deity's Sword appears in his hand. "Your majesty!" Chichiri wheezes. "He entered the child's body!" Hotohori, using Boushin's body, jumps at the monster with his sword. Hotohori/Boushin stabs the teddy bear viciously, and the monster dissolves into thin air. The tentacles holding everyone up disappear, and they begin to fall. Tasuki quickly dives beneath Miaka, using his body to cushion her landing. She lands with a little bump on his back, and blinking with surprise, she smiles at him. "Tasuki . . . thanks!" Tasuki looks down, blushing a little. "It's not. . . really that big of a deal. Er, um . . .you're heavy, so get off." "Oh, sorry!" Miaka and Tasuki both get up to their feet. "Lately, Tasuki's been *really* good about saving Miaka, na no da!" Chichiri pipes in. "He was even KISSING her at the lake!" "Call it artificial respiration!!" Tasuki yells. Taka says gratefully to Hotohori/Boushin that he saved them all. Hotohori admits that he's surprised he can enter the body of his son. Hotohori's eyes widen, and he quickly turns and begins running in the opposite direction. Not sure where he's going, everyone turns to follow him. * * * Houki's eyes open slowly when she hears the sound of running footsteps outside of her door. The door to her room bursts open, and Boushin runs inside, calling, "Houki!!" Houki bolts upright in bed, staring wide-eyed at her son. "Boushin!" "Houki!" Boushin says again, eyes shining as he looks at her. "Can you tell? It is I!" Houki stares a moment more, then tears brim in her eyes, as she realizes who is speaking to her. "Your majesty!" she chokes, smiling. Throwing aside the covers, she leaps from the bed, and runs to embrace him. "Your majesty!! Is it really you?" "Houki!" Hotohori says through Boushin. "It is really I. I have made you grieve for leaving you and Boushin behind. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." "Your majesty." Houki whispers holding him in her arms. "I'm so glad to see you. I missed you so much." Miaka and her friends stand outside the door, quietly watching with smiles on their faces. * * * "A stone?" Houki says, holding her son in her lap, looking at everyone, who have crowded into the room. "Globe of memory?" "Yes. Without it, Taka - Tamahome will cease to exist." Miaka explains. Houki ponders for a moment, then turns to Miaka. "I always thought it was a vision. Right before I bore this child, I saw a stone that shone a blue colour. The stone came into me, and I remember it was very hot. The moment this child was born, the heat also left me. I thought it was a vision due to birth pains." "Can it be that the globe is inside the child?" Miaka wonders. "All right!" Tasuki leaps to his feet. "Leave everything to me!" He picks Boushin up by the feet, tips him upside down, and begins vigorously shaking him. "Come on, give it up! Give it up! Chichiri, hit him on the top! It's all right, 'cause Hotohori-sama's inside him right now!" Chichiri grabs his staff, lifting it up. "D-DAA!" Boushin twists about, booting Tasuki in the face. "What are you doing to my child?!" Hotohori shouts. "Chichiri, what are you thinking, going along with it! And by the way why did you put the globe in my son in the first place, Tamahome!?" "It's not like I put it there!" Taka laughs nervously, watching Boushin/Hotohori pin Tasuki to the ground and begin beating him up thoroughly. "Excuse me . . ." A handmaiden enters the room. "I have brought Boushin-sama his meal." "All right." Hotohori says dropping Tasuki. "We'll discuss this later. Now, we must let Boushin eat first." Hotohori's spirit leaves Boushin's body, and the little boy steps over the table. The handmaiden sets the tray down, and pulls a concealed dagger from beneath it. She slashes violently with the knife, but Chichiri quickly grabs Boushin out of the way. "She's not human, na no da!" Tasuki mutters about how they keep showing up after one another, and he whips out his Tessen, shouting to the others to stay back. "LEKKA SHINEN!" As the flames consume the figure of the maid, she transforms into a hideous one-eyed monster. "Not dead yet!" Nyan-Nyan cries, leaping forward. "Sanzen Ha!!" (~"Radiant Blast", if ya wanna know what it means~) Power shoots from her hands, bursting around the monster, which roars in pain. "I'll finish it off!" Hotohori runs forward with his sword glowing red. His Chi swirls about him, as angrily he says, "I will not let you hurt my child! Begone!" The entire Palace bursts with his power as the monster is blasted into nothingness. * * * Houki and Boushin gaze quietly as soft red light filters through the window. In its glow, the spirit of Hotohori becomes visible. He is looking out the window, a sad expression on his face. "Your majesty!" Houki gasps. At the sound of her voice, Hotohori turns his head, eyes wide with surprise. "Houki . . . you can see me?" "Yes." Tears spill down her cheeks. "I can see." Boushin, who is in her lap, coos and opens his arms at the sight of his father. "You can see too, can't you, Boushin?" Houki whispers. "You can see too. Yes, this is your father." She sets Boushin on the ground, and the boy eagerly toddles forward with arms outstretched. Hotohori smiles, getting to his knees. "Boushin, my child. Come here!" he encourages. He opens his hands to receive the boy. Boushin walks to him, and tries clasping Hotohori's hands. But, both have forgotten that Hotohori is only a spirit. Boushin's hands pass right through his father's, and off-balance, he stumbles. Boushin slips right through the form of his father, and lands squarely on the hard floor. Hotohori stares straight ahead, his expression unbearably sorrowful and pained. Behind him, Boushin lifts up his head and begins to cry. Hearing the child's cries, and seeing the Emperor's evident sadness, Taka steps forward and bends down to him. "My body." Taka encourages. "Enter my body. I seem to be missing half of my memories, unlike everyone else, so I thought I might be easier to enter." He smiles. Hotohori returns his smile, "Thank you, Tamahome." With those words, his spirit enters Taka's body. Hotohori/Taka picks up Boushin, stilling his cries. Hotohori hugs the little boy close, saying gently, "Boushin, I am a bad father. I cannot even be beside you and your mother. But, I am always thinking about you. Boushin, grow up soon. Become a strong and respectable man, and take my place. No, love the people even more than I, and become a great Emperor who builds a peaceful land. As a son, protect your mother. I know you can do it, because you are . . . my precious . . ." "Father . . ." Boushin suddenly says, against Hotohori's cheek. Hotohori's eyes fly open, and he looks at the child, who smiles up at him. "Boushin . . ." Hotohori gasps. "What . . . right now . . . did you just say?" "Father!" Boushin eagerly coos again. He reaches out to touch his father's face with his tiny hand, and Hotohori clasps it as tears stream down his face. A blue light surrounds Taka as he holds the child in his arms, and the glowing memory globe appears. It enters his body, and he remembers the swordfight he had had in the pouring rain against the Emperor, when Miaka had saved him by helping him to overcome the drug. "You remember, Tamahome." Hotohori says, now outside of the body and sitting beside his family. "Your strength to protect Miaka is in your love and kindness. Thank you for lending me your body." Miaka hugs Taka, saying, "I'm so glad we got the third globe." "I remember that time in the rain, Miaka." Taka smiles. Tasuki stands at the back of the room, watching Taka and Miaka embracing with this sad, puppy-eyed expression on his face. He finally closes his eyes and manages to turn away. Miaka and Taka start in surprise, as they are surrounded by a bright, red glow. Everyone jerks around, realizing that they are going back to their world. "Everyone!" Miaka manages to cry before she and Taka vanish. "We'll be back for sure to find the fourth stone. For sure!" * * * A man sits before an altar, on which a crystal ball surrounded by lit tapers lies. His long hair is pulled back, and his eyes are closed in concentration. He turns when he hears a voice call, "Rokou-sama! Rokou-sama!" He gets up, leaving the altar behind. The crystal ball shines, and the image of a globe appears inside.

The small scroll lies glowing red on the table. Yui, her wounds bandaged, sits and watches it. "Miaka will . . ." she says to herself, "They both will come back!" At Miaka's house, Miaka's mother yells to Keisuke that Yui-chan is on the phone. * * * Miaka and Taka, bathed with light, are travelling between the two worlds. "Taka," Miaka says, gazing tenderly at him, "I'm glad you found the third stone." "Yeah," Taka agrees. "I want to remember everyone!" Miaka leans against his chest and closes her eyes. "But, I'm afraid of the evil Chi that Taiitsu-kun was talking about." "Don't worry." Taka wraps his arms around her. "As long as we love each other, we'll win." "Taka . . . please love me forever!" Miaka sighs. * * * "Yeah," Yui says to Keisuke on the phone. "They both are okay. Neither of them are hurt." She rolls her eyes. "In fact, right now, they are flirting in front of me!" Upon hearing Yui's words, Miaka and Taka break apart, finally realizing where they are. "Yui-chan!" Miaka cries. "We're in your house!" "That light at the north school building - that was because of you two, wasn't it?" Yui says. When Miaka nods yes, Yui continues, "I thought so. That's where I found the scroll." "Yui-chan! What happened? You're wounded!" Miaka cries. "So, you finally became aware of it!" Yui teases. "Anyhow, you'd better be absent from school until we know Shigyou-kun's true intentions." "Do as she says, Miaka." Taka agrees. "I'll also talk to Keisuke and Tetsuya tomorrow." * * * The next morning, however, Miaka goes straight to school. "I know I promised, but he gave Yui-chan such a hard time. Maybe Kyo-chan and everyone were controlled by him." she thinks. "Miaka!" calls a voice. Miaka jumps, but sees a smiling Kyo behind her. "What are you doing here?" Kyo asks, and takes Miaka's hand. "Let's go!" In the classroom, Miaka takes a seat, and starts to feel comfortable when she notices that everyone is behaving normally. She wonders, however, where Ren is. It turns out that Ren is absent for the day, and Miaka finds herself angrily hoping that he stays absent. * * * Taka calls Miaka's house, but only catches Keisuke's goofy answering machine. Keisuke is angry to discover that Miaka did leave that morning, after all. "I'm going to check on Miaka at her house!" Taka announces, and rushes off. "I'll check on Yui." Tetsuya replies, and also leaves. Keisuke sighs, watching them go. Then, he lifts his head and says, "*Fine* then! I'll buy a beer!!" and he, too, runs off. Taka doesn't manage to get very far before a voice calls out to him, "Sukunami-san!" He slows as Miiru Kamishiro approaches him. "From yesterday!" she reminds him. "I joined the same research club you are in." "Yeah, I heard about that!" Taka replies, kindly but impatiently. "Nice to meet you, but I'm in a hurry. See ya!" Upon hearing this, Miiru cries out and falls to her knees, clutching her chest. Taka, in surprise, runs up and asks what's the matter. She grins to herself. "Oh . . . I'm alright." Then she collapses against him. * * * The bell rings, and Miaka gets up. She says a hearty good-bye to Kyo, but the latter murmurs, "Don't go." Miaka stares as Kyo turns around and looks at her. "Don't go until you look at what's written on the chalkboard." Miaka looks up, and cries out when she sees, "MIAKA YUUKI - KILL" scrawled across the blackboard surface. Eyes glowing, her classmates get up from their seats and surround her. * * * Miiru and Taka are crouched in an out-of-the-way corner, Miiru still gasping in pain. Taka asks if she's really okay, and Miiru apologizes for the delay, since he was in a hurry. "It's okay, don't worry about it." Taka reassures. "You must be concerned . . ." Miiru smiles. "About Miaka-san!" Taka gasps. Miiru, catching him off-guard, grabs his face and bites him on the ear lobe. Blood wells beneath her teeth. "Oh, sorry!" she snickers, backing away. "I guess I bit a little too hard! Don't worry, be still and you'll recover after a while. I hope you can make it." Laughing, she leaves. Taka, eyes wide with shock, curls up, trembling. "Shit!" he yells, and falls to the ground. * * * Ren stands on the roof with his long ponytail and Chinese robes blowing in the wind, gazing across the school yard. Hearing his classmates come up behind him, he turns around and smiles. "Student body president," they call, "We've got Miaka Yuuki." They bring the captured Miaka forward. Miaka glares at him furiously. "You sneak!" she yells. "Are you enjoying controlling everyone?" Ren smiles, and jumps down in front of her. "What an awful thing to say! My kindness for poor you was the reason you had no trouble at school today. Because - you'll jump off of here!" Ren walks up to her, and looks her straight in the eye. "The sudden suicide of a high school girl," he ponders. "Nihilistic feelings after an exam. Or bullying. The public will be curious." "DEVIL!" Miaka screams. "You are a devil pretending to be human!" "Pretending to be human? So?" Ren mocks. "Are human beings that great?" His eyes become sorrowful. "I know for a fact that human beings are weak, stupid, and cowards. Although they can do nothing alone, as a group they attack the one that is different from themselves." Ren, in his mind's eye, remembers a moment of his past. He stands at the edge of a cliff, holding the figure of a cloaked woman in his arms as townsfolk carrying weapons approach him. His eyes, terrified, see no way of escape. "Nobody is concerned about the prey who begs for mercy. If I am a Devil," he points to the students, "Then so are THEY! They don't care if they have weak wills and get controlled easily. They would live with indifference no matter what happens to you!" "That's NOT true!" Miaka counters in fury. "I know the kindness and strength of people! And, the heart that loves someone!" "Your heart that loves." Ren reports. "OUR love isn't wrong, either." he says to himself. He leans toward her, and takes her chin gently in his hand. "Interesting . . . let's try it!" Miaka jerks up, and finds him saucily eyeing her. "That look in his eyes! NO!" she thinks. "I'll separate you from him." Ren whispers. "He will disappear. Then, I'll make you fall in love with me!" "Help me! NOO!" Miaka twists, and her body begins to glow with red light. "Taka!!" There is suddenly a commotion amongst the students. Landing swift punches and kicks, Taka leaps among them, at the same time sneering to Ren that he has lousy powers of observation. "I came here for you, Miaka!" Taka smiles. A car tears into the schoolyard, with Tetsuya in the driver's seat, and Yui beside him. She tells him to go to the north school building, and he races around the corner at breakneck speed. Taka runs forward and begins easily beating up the group of students. Ren glares angrily at him, and leaps into the air to escape. "Taka!" Miaka calls. The red light surrounding her body materializes into the scroll, and she tosses it to him. "Catch!" The string tying the scroll unwinds, and red light bursts forth. The paper begins unfurling rapidly. Ren jumps backwards and lands with both feet on the very edge of the roof railing. However, the scroll flies right at him, the paper slicing across his face like a razor's edge. Blood splatters into the air as Ren loses his balance and starts falling backward. (That's gotta be the world's worst paper cut!! Ow-w-w! T_T) As Miaka and Taka speechlessly watch, Ren tries to jump away, but is stopped when the scroll starts wrapping around him. Screaming, he is soon twisted up in it and plummeting down to the ground. "This red light! It's the same!" Miaka blurts. She and Taka turn to each other as it surrounds them. There is a thud as the scroll lands on the ground, but Ren has completely vanished. Yui and Tetsuya walk up to the unrolled scroll and quietly gaze at it. "Will Shigyou die because of this?" Tetsuya wonders. "No, that's impossible. But we may be able to use the scroll to fight him." Yui says. Both she and Tetsuya glance up at the school roof, where the students come out of their trance, and wonder where they are. "Miaka and Taka are gone." Yui says, sadness creeping into her voice. "Yeah, to get the fourth stone." Tetsuya replies, putting his arm around her and pulling her close. * * * In the dead of the night, Tasuki and Chichiri sneak around the corner of a building. They look up as they notice a glow of red light in the sky. "It's coming!" Tasuki says. Miaka and Taka come tumbling out of the sky. Miaka lands right in Tasuki's arms, and he sets her gently upright. "Nice catch, na no da!" Chichiri says. Taka lands with a thud in the bushes. ^v^ "Welcome back, Tamahome, na no da!" says Chichiri again. Miaka and Taka open their eyes, to realize that they have returned to the book world. When Miaka notices the spirits of Hotohori, Nuriko, and Chiriko, she cries out loudly in surprise, "Everyone!!" Chichiri freaks and shushes her, explaining that they are trying to *quietly* steal something. Nuriko smiles. "Stealing something from my own house! Sounds stupid, doesn't it?" Miaka looks confused. "This is Nuriko's house? We're stealing something from here?" The group quietly enters the house, remarking that since Miaka and Taka left, a week has gone by. In that passage of time, the Seishi managed to locate the whereabouts of Nuriko's globe. It seems that the globe is with Nuriko's older brother, Rokou. Chichiri and Tasuki had gone to visit him, and Rokou allowed them to burn incense in honor of Nuriko's death. Nuriko's spirit was at the ceremony, and seeing everyone's serious faces, had to lighten the mood by acting stupid. (Remember, Nuriko is visible to only Chichiri and Tasuki, so Rokou couldn't see him). Tasuki burst out laughing at Nuriko's antics, naturally making a *bit* of a bad impression on Rokou for his interruption of a serious ceremony. "Ohhhhh!" Taka says to Tasuki. "So it was YOUR fault!" "Damn you!" Tasuki glares right back. "What the hell are you staring at?" "So, Rokou-san has the stone?" Miaka asks. Nuriko apologizes on behalf of his brother, and leading them into the house, shows them a glass case, within which lies a beautiful crystal ball. "In my childhood, I treasured it." Nuriko explains. "When I came home, I found that the stone had been placed inside of it." Chichiri regrets that he and Tasuki were a little hasty when they tried breaking the crystal ball, in order to get at the memory globe. Rokou, in horror, had grabbed the ball away from them, defensively shouting that it was his only keepsake of his brother, who never came back. Upset, he wondered if the Suzaku Seishi would take even this one last memento away, especially since they were the ones who took the life of Ryuen away from him in the first place. Chiriko sympathetically states that Rokou's feelings are understandable, "But now, Tamahome-san will disappear soon if this takes too long." Nuriko shakes his head and sighs. "Tasuki, I don't mind, so go ahead and break the ball. It's all right, my brother hasn't changed since he was a child. He was timid, weak, and would be bullied all the time." Nuriko remembers how he would always help Rokou, and how Rokou always counted on him. "But, it's already been two years. I HAVE to convince him of my death. Tamahome's globe is more important." "All right, then!" Tasuki pulls out his Tessen and grins. "Miaka, give the crystal ball to Tama." "Why, are you going to flame me, too?" Taka mutters suspiciously. "Just the crystal ball, asshole!" Tasuki retorts. Miaka plops the ball into Taka's hands. However, the instant Taka touches it, a violet light surrounds him, and he screams. Falling to the ground, he writhes with pain, as a horrible monster appears over his body. Chichiri rushes up to the suffering Taka, and placing his hands on Taka's shoulders, creates a glowing red light around him. "What the . . ." Tasuki cries. "That monster is getting into Tama!!" "Don't get too close, no da!" Chichiri shouts over his shoulder. "Especially Miaka! You cannot touch him! He is not just under a spell, no da." Taka falls backward onto the floor. His fingers twitch convulsively, and the crystal ball rolls out of his hand and onto the floor. Rokou, awakened by the commotion, enters the room. His eyes widen when he sees what's going on. "What are you doing?!" he gasps. "What is that . . . monster?" Tasuki realizes the jig is up. "This is BAAAAAD." he gulps. * * * In a dark cavern, Miiru is sitting with the wounded Ren in her arms. Her long hair is pulled back, and she is clothed in Chinese robes. Both of them are glowing with violet light. "Ren," Miiru whispers, "No one can judge us. No one!" Her eyes open wide, bright with anger. "Our power is totally different from the power of Suzaku. I made that monster a parasite on his body." Miiru takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Tenkou-sama. I'll continue with the spell as soon as I send my Chi to Ren." Tenkou appears in the shadows, smiling down at them. "Fine." he says. "Miisu . . . take your time. Take care of Renhou." * * * Rokou picks the crystal ball up off the ground, clutching it fiercely to his chest. He turns and looks accusingly around the room. "I won't allow you to have this!" he sobs. "Please, get out of here! Immediately!" "Brother!" Nuriko tries calling. "Brother!" Rokou doesn't hear him. "If you don't, then I'll leave here!" Rokou runs outside, calling for someone to bring a wagon. "I'll go to the temple, where myself and the crystal ball will be protected!" Nuriko stands at the doorway, watching his brother go. "Not only can't you see me, but you also can't hear me . . . brother . . ." * * * The Seishi inspect the bite on Taka's ear, and realize that the woman put the monster into his body by the wound. Taka breathlessly apologizes for being so careless, saying that he didn't think that woman was dangerous. Chiriko burns a pattern onto the floor around Taka, creating a sealing spell against the evil spirit. "It's a magic barrier, no da." Chichiri explains. "So we can calm the monster and destroy it with Hotohori's Deity's Sword and our power." "Will Tamahome's body be all right?" Nuriko wonders, worriedly. Chiriko looks grim. "Suzaku Seishi have vital powers several times that of ordinary people, but as a Seishi, he's only at half strength." "If only we could get the stone!" Hotohori comments. "Or find a way to get rid of the monster." Miaka, in a back corner, listens to the conversation with a determined expression on her face. With no one looking, she steps out the door and begins running down the dark streets, following the path that Rokou took. "Wait for me, Taka!" she thinks. Suddenly, she hears hoofbeats behind her, and turns around. Tasuki races up behind her on horseback. Stopping before Miaka, he tosses her a grin back over his shoulder, and says, "Dummy! You don't know the direction to the temple, do you?" "Tasuki!" Miaka smiles happily, and climbs up behind him, hanging onto his waist. The two ride for some distance in silence, as the moon shines overhead. Tasuki, after a while, begins to give voice to his thoughts. "You really always have to be watching out for Tama, don't you? Don't you get irritated a little?" Miaka is silent for a moment, then whispers, "Huh?" "Think about it!" Tasuki continues. "He fell under the spell of that woman, Miiru. In addition, the monster easily took over him! To be frank, these are all his faults, aren't they? He must have been attracted!" Miaka, suddenly lets go of him, falling off of the horse and landing squarely on the hard ground. Tasuki cries out, startled, hurriedly pulling the horse to a stop. "Miaka! What are you doing?!" Miaka looks up at Tasuki, bright rage in her eyes. "That's enough!!" she screams furiously at him. "I'll go there by myself!" Tasuki stares at her, open-mouthed, his face filled with confusion. Miaka stands up and stomps her foot. "Tasuki . . . who is saying such awful things about Taka - Tamahome! You know better that Tamahome's not such a person! Tasuki . . . Tasuki, you're his friend! You can go back." She walks by him, not even looking at him. Hearing her words, Tasuki bites his lip, looking down. "I - I just . . ." he fumbles. "I thought you were very unhappy . . . and I didn't want to see your sad face." He is silent for a moment, pensively and sadly looking at her. Then, he shakes his head, gasping to himself, "Ah - No! No! What am I saying?!" He takes a deep breath, and calls, "M-Miaka?" "Go back, I said!" she snarls. She continues walking determinedly forward, not noticing movement in the grass at her feet. In a flash, a huge snake rears up, lunging at her. "Miaka!!" Tasuki cries, as Miaka screams. * * * Rokou sits before the altar at the temple, praying earnestly. "From the monster . . . please protect me and this crystal ball. This ball - is a substitute for Ryuen. Please, don't take it away from me!" He clenches it protectively between his fingers. "Ryuen, please protect me!" Nuriko's spirit appears behind Rokou. Hearing his brother's words, he glares and grips his hands into fists. Around his wrists, his bracelets transform into iron arms guards. "I can't believe you said that. If my friends disappear, I will never forgive you." Red light begins to shine behind Rokou, and he looks in surprise. He watches, utterly motionless, as an iron arm band presses against his throat. Within moments, sounds of a struggle reverberate through the temple. * * * "LEKKA SHINEN!" Tasuki yells, ramming his Tessen into the snake and blasting it with fire. The snake bursts into flame. "Tasuki!" Miaka sits up, shaking with fear. He falls to his knees, his hand covering the enormous snake bite on his shoulder. The horse already lies dead in the grass beside them. "Not good," Tasuki chokes, eyes filled with panic. "It was poisonous." He begins trembling, as blood stains his sleeve. "What should I do?!" Miaka wails. "Don't you know?" Tasuki blurts hurriedly. "Suck the poison out from the open wound, and put a tourniquet on." "Okay!" Miaka pulls his jacket off, exposing his wounded shoulder. She squeezes the wound between her hands, and putting her head down, covers the wound with her lips. Rapidly she begins to suck. "M - Miaka." Tasuki breathes, watching her. He arches his head back in pain, and she spats blood on the ground. Again she applies her mouth to Tasuki, sucking out the poison and spitting it onto the ground. (~Actually, the anime kinda half wussed-out in this scene. In the original manga, the wound Miaka had to suck on was located on Tasuki's lower abdomen! O.o ~) Miaka wipes her mouth, watching Tasuki. "Are you okay?" she asks. Then, an idea flies into her mind, as she looks at Tasuki's wound. "Poison from an open wound?" She thinks of the open bite on Taka's ear. "Maybe, that would work on Taka!" "YES! Excuse me!" Nuriko, carrying his unconscious brother over his shoulder, comes racing down the road. When he sees Miaka and the shirtless Tasuki (O.o) lying on the grass, he comes to a screeching halt. "Miaka! Tasuki!" Nuriko peers at them curiously. "What are you guys doing?" * * * Back at Nuriko's house, Taka twitches with pain. Chiriko tries holding him down, but of course his hand passes right through Taka. "No! I cannot even touch him!" Chiriko sighs. "There's no help for that" Hotohori stands, his sword glowing with red light. "All I can do for now is just will my Chi to him. Only a living person can touch." Chichiri, busy at maintaining the spirit seal, says, "We'll use our powers until Tasuki and Miaka return." "THANKS FOR WAITING!!!" Nuriko cheerily bursts into the room. In his arms, he holds Rokou, Tasuki, and Miaka all piled up on top of each other. "I brought my brother, and the globe! Also Miaka and this useless bum!" Tasuki, gritting his teeth in a forced grin, says, "I apologize!" * * * "Suck it out from an open wound?" Chichiri questions, after Miaka tells of her plan. "It sounds dangerous." The rest of the Seishi agree, with Chiriko commenting, "If Miaka-san touches Tamahome-san, it's a pain he can't bear." Taka mumbles that he will try. He insists that he won't surrender, and that he's okay. . . that in order to hug Miaka once again, he'll endure anything. Upon hearing his words, Nuriko steps behind Taka setting his arms firmly around Taka's shoulders. "Only my bracelets can touch you." Nuriko explains. "But, I've got to use my Chi, so my strength will be less than normal. Try not to move around too much!" Rokou, crouched in a corner with the crystal ball clasped to himself, trembles as he watches Miaka step into the magic barrier. He flinches and shuts his eyes. * * * A little blood doll, hanging on a chain, glows with purple light. Miiru smiles as she holds the chain in her hands. "A magician . . . Chichiri . . ." she says. "It's impossible, no matter what you try. He cannot overcome the monster." * * * Miaka seizes Taka's earlobe in her mouth, as he screams in terrible pain. He begins kicking and thrashing wildly about, and Miaka loses her grip on him. "Hold ON!" Tasuki yells at him, grabbing Taka's legs and holding him down. Writhing, Taka kicks Tasuki smack in the face, sending him crashing to the floor. Chichiri shouts to Tasuki that it's asking too much of him to hold Taka with his wound. Tasuki says that he doesn't care, he's forcing himself, and holds Taka down again. Taka delivers a second powerful boot to Tasuki's face, sending Tasuki crashing to the wall, where he crumples weakly to the ground and stays there. "Taka! Please, please don't move!" Miaka cries. Nuriko, gritting his teeth, looks over his shoulder to the corner where the shaking Rokou is sitting. "Brother!" Nuriko calls. "Brother, are you listening to me?! Please help me!! Only YOU can help!" Rokou's eyes widen as, for the first time, he hears his brother's voice. "Ryuen? I - I can't do this! I'm powerless!" He sobs, closing his eyes. Chiriko, glowering angrily, appears behind Rokou. With all his might, Chiriko screams and throws himself at Rokou. Rokou is hit by the shock, throwing his body into the air, and glowing with red light. "Chiriko, don't!" Chichiri cries, watching Rokou shaking with the red light. "Possessing one who shuts out people is impossible! Don't DO it!!" Rokou and Chiriko both begin screaming. Chiriko, rejected, is thrown to the floor and slides across the room. Rokou, dropping the crystal ball, falls to his knees. Chiriko picks himself up slowly. "Though you're alive," he mutters, "Though you're alive, you're not going to go forward!!" Chiriko bursts into tears. "Exchange your body for me! For me . . . give it to me! I won't forgive you! I won't accept you!" He falls again, crying. Rokou listens silently to the weeping of the little boy. Everyone spins around when Taka begins howling in pain once again. Nuriko, in panic, cries out, "No! Don't bite off your tongue!" There is the sickening sound of teeth chomping into flesh. "Tamahome . . ." Nuriko shudders, looking away. When he opens his eyes again, he gasps with surprise. "Brother!" Rokou put his own arm into Taka's mouth, letting Taka bite down on the flesh without hurting himself. Blood soaks through Rokou's sleeve around Taka's teeth, but all Rokou does to seize the wrist of Nuriko's arm guard in his hand, and doesn't move. Rokou, trembling with pain, looks up as tears well in his eyes. " I . . . knew it . . ." he whispers to Nuriko. "You're not here any more. Wherever I look for you, you're nowhere to be found. I'm all alone. People said that you died . . . an honorable, respectable death. But . . . " he whimpers. "How can I be convinced of that? I was simply informed that you were lying asleep in the snow peacefully . . . I couldn't even cling to your body and cry. I just heard you'd died. Holding you and crying . . . crying as much as possible . . . even that couldn't be granted to me!" Suddenly, Nuriko's bracelets begin shinning, and Rokou jerks up. He is finally able to see Nuriko's teary, joyous face looking up at him. "Brother!" Nuriko murmurs. "Ryuen!" Rokou cries. Miaka pulls back, her mouth full of Taka's blood, and spits it onto the floor. The blood transforms into the monster, to which Hotohori runs up and destroys with his sword. Miaka holds the saved Taka in her arms, as everyone watches Nuriko and Rokou. "Are you there?" Rokou smiles. "Ryuen . . . you and I looked similar, but are different types of people. You were strong physically and spiritually. I'm really timid. I wanted to start to acting like an older brother. . . but then you were gone. Have I become a little stronger? Am I worthy to be your brother?" Nuriko supports the bandaged arm of Rokou on his bracelet, as the two smile at each other. "What are you saying?" Nuriko murmurs. "You will always be my brother! You're fine, you've become stronger . . . idiot. You're really stupid." He smiles warmly and gently. * * * In his cavern, Tenkou sits watching the scene. He extinguishes it with his hand, an evil grin crossing his face. "From now on, this will be interesting."