Volume 1

While at the National Library in Tokyo with Yui, Miaka follows what she thinks is a big red bird into a room that is closed to the public. Yui finds her and there they discover an ancient Chinese novel entitled Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. Yui begins to read aloud from the book and the two discover that the book is actually a magical incantation.

"As the page is turned, the story will become real and begin," Yui reads.

As soon as the line was read, the two were transported into what looked and felt like ancient China. Unfortunately, their welcome party isn't friendly. They were about to be kidnapped when suddenly, a young man with the character "oni" (demon) on his forehead appears and saves them. After all is safe, the guy asks for money in return for his efforts. While Miaka is looking for some, the guy walks away, while Yui suddenly vanishes. Miaka chases after the young man, thinking perhaps the lost Yui had been kidnapped by him, but in fact, Yui had been returned to the real world. And there, she picks up the Shi Jin Ten chi Sho and reads...

Meanwhile, as Miaka looks for the guy before, she discovers that she is in the southern country called Konan. While there, she nearly gets raped, and is saved, again, by the guy with the character of the demon on his forehead...

The young man introduces himself as Sou Kishuku, otherwise known as Tamahome. When Miaka demanded to know where Yui is, Tamahome honestly answers that he doesn't know. Miaka follows Tamahome around, not convinced. When she's finally convinced, she continues to follow him around, demanding him to help her find Yui. After a long chase and a short test of wits, the irritated Tama-kun nearly gives up.

The two see the Emperor, surrounded by guards and subjects. Knowing that Tama-kun loves money more than anything else, Miaka thinks that the kind and generous Emperor could give her a jewel or two to pay for Tamahome's services. However, due to Miaka's clumsiness, she trips and nearly stumbles on one of the Emperor's guards. The other guards try to get her, but Tama-kun comes to her rescue. Suddenly, Miaka is surrounded by red light, and is almost teleported back to her world. Seeing that Yui is there, safe in the library, Miaka is relieved. As Miaka reappears in Tamahome's arms, a red feather appears on her forehead. Seeing this, the Emperor commands for the two to be seized.

While in the dungeons, Miaka apologizes for getting Tamahome into trouble. Tama-kun says it's alright, since he already got his pay, anyway (pertaining to the kiss he gave Miaka on her forehead). Miaka then thinks of a way to use bubblegum to escape.

While trying to get out of the palace grounds, the two reach the Suzaku Shrine, and Tama-kun explains to Miaka the legend of the south god. However, Miaka fell under the spell of the smell of good food, and becomes separated from Tamahome. After eating a good meal, Miaka is suddenly lost and meets a woman in one of the courts. Tama-kun, on the other hand, is being chased after by the palace guards, and ends up in the same court Miaka is in. When the two are about to be arrested *again*, the woman Miaka has been talking with reveals himself to be the Emperor of Konan himself, Sai Hitei. Discovering that Miaka is from another world, Sai Hitei asks her to become the Suzaku no Miko, and she can ask for three wishes. Miaka's first impulse is to pass the juken, and so she agrees. Sai Hitei then announces the arrival of the legendary Suzaku no Miko...

Miaka dreams about her brother, Keisuke. Tugging at her brother's hand, Miaka wakes up to see that she has been tugging at Tamahome's hand, after all. Miaka demands the reason of Tamahome's presence in her room, and he answers that it's because he's worried about her. Tama-kun tells Miaka that she needn't act like a tough girl, and that she could cry if she wants to. He says that, while Miaka is in Konan, he'll be her brother, for free.^_^ Miaka then visits the Emperor, who is in his room, examining himself on the mirror. Miaka asks how the Suzaku no Miko business is supposed to work. And so, Sai Hitei explains.

The sky is divided into four sections, based on direction, each governed by an animal diety. Each of these four gods have seven constellations (seishuku) that are dedicated to them in each of these quadrants. The constellations are also the names of the shichi seishi, seven people who have been chosen by the god Suzaku to act as the protectors of the Miko of that quadrant. Now that Miaka is the Miko, she has to find the seishi. One of which are Tamahome. Revealing the character "hoshi" (star) on his neck, Sai Hitei tells them that he is one of the shichi seishi, Hotohori. If Miaka can gather shichi seishi, she can call upon the god to grant her 3 wishes. Hotohori asks that she use one of the wishes to save his country from the greedy Emperor of Kutou, who wants to invade Konan.

And so they take action to find the seishi. Hotohori orders that those best in the arts of fighting and literacy be gathered. Tama-kun and Miaka took their turns in trying to find at least one seishi among those gathered. But, again due to Miaka's clumisness, a shed is destroyed, and falls on her.

Tamahome tries to save her, but the rubble fall on him, as well. But Tama-kun doesn't give up despite the hard time he's having, and vows to Miaka that, whatever happens, he'll protect her. At the same time Miaka sees a wound on her thigh, Yui realizes that she had a wound on the same spot.

Lady Kourin of Hotohori's court, who has been watching the events, steps forward and picks up and easily tosses the huge debris one by one. The two are saved, and Kourin is revealed to be Nuriko, one of the Suzaku Shichiseishi. Seeing the character "yanagi" (willow) on Nuriko's right chest, Miaka greets and thanks her happily. But Nuriko almost ignores her, saying that the one she wants to save is Tamahome. To everyone's surprise, Nuriko kisses Tamahome.

Miaka's wound is bandaged, and she proceeds to her room to wash her bloodstained skirt and dirty clothes. Coincidentally, Tamahome barges in, seeing Miaka naked. Tama-kun tries to explain that he wants to hide in Miaka's room from Nuriko, but Nuriko appears and captures Tamahome's feet and pulls him away.

Miaka realizes that, no matter how rude Nuriko may be to her, Nuriko is still a seishi. Thinking that it will be a way to get close to Nuriko, Miaka approaches her, asking to be in Nuriko's service. Nuriko agrees, but tortures Miaka with chores, and the sight of Nuriko with Tama-kun.

That afternoon, Miaka is in a gazebo, thinking. Tama-kun apporaches her. Miaka congratulates him for finding a beautiful girl in love with him. After yet another misunderstanding, Tamahome walks away. Miaka starts to chase after him, but because of her injury, Miaka falls. Tama-kun walks back and attends to Miaka's wound.

As Tamahome is attending to Miaka's wound, Miaka is worried that Nuriko might get angry with her all over again. Tama-kun laughs, saying that it must be that Miaka is jealous. Miaka denies this, of course, while Tama-kun is blabbering about how much he prioritizes money over girls.

That night, Miaka sees Nuriko. Nuriko tells Miaka that she lost the earring from her mother at the pond. Miaka offers to find it and and sets off for the search. Meanwhile, Hotohori is being told by his subjects that he should choose his empress soon, while Hotohori replies that he already has someone in his mind. Suddenly, Miaka pops out of nowhere. Miaka told Hotohori of her search when he asked. Hotohori tells her that if Nuriko isn't treating her properly, he would order Nuriko to behave. But Miaka cut his sentence short, saying that "You just can't change people's hearts with orders...", and hops off.

While looking for the earring, Miaka falls in the pond, and suddenly, Yui is wet as well. Miaka gets her feet entangled in the weeds, and calls for Tamahome. Tama-kun senses that Miaka is in danger. In her room, Nuriko is gloating how easily she had tricked Miaka about the non-existent earring. Apparently, Tama-kun heard everything. He starts to run for the door to save Miaka, but Nuriko stops him. As it turns out, Nuriko has just been using Tama-kun as an excuse to hurt Miaka because she has taken Hotohori-sama's attention that Nuriko has pined to have. By that time, Miaka arrives at the scene, and presents to Nuriko a shiny stone.

After a couple of slaps, Miaka goes to Hotohori, telling him of Nuriko's feelings. But the reply she got was Hotohori's confession of his love for Miaka! After nearly kissing Miaka, Hotohori blows Tama-kun's and Nuriko's stealth by splitting a wall in half. Tama-kun says that they were there to pick up Miaka. Hotohori proposes to Miaka, in front of Tamahome and Nuriko, and offers for to Miaka stay in his quarters. Miaka is bewildered of the events, including the sight of Tama-kun's jealous face, and so she didn't get to sleep a wink.

Miaka's day didn't have a good start with Tama-kuna and Nuriko. Tamahome seemed cold towards her, and Nuriko on the other hand, is enraged with her for staying at Hotohori's quarters. Now, Miaka's back to zero. Tamahome goes to town to make money, with Nuriko tagging along and Miaka "secretly" following them. Tama-kun tries to sell the bubblegum Miaka gave him that time they were escaping their dungeon cell. The townspeople didn't believe the gum to be really from the Miko if Miaka hadn't showed herself. Unfortunately, this move caused the people to stampede towards her.

Tama-kun pulls Miaka out of trouble and they run for the alleys. There, Miaka tries to clear the air between her and Tama-kun. With Nuriko watching in the sidelines, preparing to back them up, several thugs attack the two, and Tamahome gets a cut in the fight. As it rains, Miaka demands to know his true reasons for protecting her, and accidentally tells Tamahome that she has fallen in love with him. He tells her that he only protects her because of his duties as a Suzaku seishi to protect Miaka as the Suzaku no Miko, and that he has no interest in love. Heartbroken, Miaka reaches for Tamahome, but instead faints because of her high fever.