Volume 2

Episode 5 - Conflicting Emotions

As Miaka (and Yui as well) is suffering from her fever, the palace doctor tells Hotohori that she will be alright, physically. But she is suffering emotionally because Miaka is living a life she is not used to. She will have to go back to her world to get the treatment she needs. Hotohori reprimands Tamahome for not preventing this, and the proceeds in planning on how to take Miaka back home. In her bed, Miaka has recovered, and is thinking about the past events. Hotohori comes in the room and tells her that, along with the three seishi, Miaka will go to Mt. Taikyoku where a being called Taiitsukun resides in. Taiitsukun has many powers, and it is possible that she will give them the way for Miaka to go home. Again, Hotohori vows to protect Miaka.

Apparently, Tamahome was outside the whole time, overhearing the whole conversation. Nuriko pops in the scene, declaring that Tamahome is jealous of His Majesty for being close with Miaka. Tama-kun denies this and again proclaims his only love is money. But as he turns around the corner, Tama-kun thought of what Nuriko had just said..."Jealousy, is it?"

The next morning, as the four travel to Mt. Taikyoku, the air is tense around them. That night, The group rests in one of the clearings in the woods. Nuriko approaches Miaka and tells her that a pond nearby is said to have healing powers. Eagerly, Miaka goes there to bathe. Nuriko, on the other hand, tells Tamahome that Miaka wants to see him in the same pond. As Miaka takes a dip, something suddenly pulls her downwards, and she screams. Hearing her, Tama-kun runs to the rescue and dives in the water. After a few seconds of waiting, Miaka fears that Tama-kun had been eaten by the "snake." A disappointed Tamahome emerges and tells Miaka that it wasn't a snake, but a log instead. Remembering that Miaka was naked, the two suddenly turned their backs on each other. As Miaka finally yells "I'm sorry!", Tama-kun does the same thing, to her surprise. Apologizing for hurting Miaka with his words before, Tamahome explains that he just didn't know how to react since no girl ever told him that before.

Stepping out of the pond, Tama-kun wishes Miaka well. A movement in a tree catches Miaka's attention, and it was revealed to be Nuriko. Realizing that Nuriko had been playing matchmaker, Miaka jumps on her, expressing thanks. But, with Miaka's vigorous movement, Nuriko's clothes become lose, and SHE is revealed to be a MAN! "O-TO-KO!"

The next day, Hotohori seems to be missing for lunch. Miaka hops off, only to find him thinking on a hill. Hotohori tells her about his family. Hotohori's father died when he was very young, and his mother followed shortly after. He was an emperor by the age of 14, and was very lonely. Miaka tells him that even as an Emperor, Hotohori was still young, and is still, in a way, free. "You should fly, like the bird, as both of you are free..." Touched by her words, Hotohori holds her close. But, as it turns out, both Tamahome and Nuriko had been listening to them...

Later, the group continues on their journey in the foggy woods. Through yet another set of misunderstandings, insults and slaps, Tamahome and Miaka are once again separated. Walking, Miaka thinks that maybe Hotohori was better than Tamahome after all. But her thoughts are suddenly cut short by...The delicious aroma of food. Miaka sees the source of temptation, and runs towards it. But, suddenly, she's in a dark realm, and she can't seem to go through the window back to woods. A very familiar voice greets her, and another Miaka, wearing a sly smile on her face, appears from the shadows...

The "Miaka" from the shadows tells the real one that she is the shadow of Miaka's thoughts. Leaving her with the puzzle, "Miaka" steps out of the realm, carrying a mirror where Miaka is in, and prepares to have Hotohori all to herself. Meanwhile, Tamahome reports to Hotohori that he had lost track of Miaka. That instant, "Miaka" appears and runs towards them. To Nuriko's dismay and Tamahome's bewilderment, "Miaka" turns to embrace Hotohori. Inside the mirror, the real Miaka is going nuts trying to think of a way to get out, and at the same time frustrated at the fake's actions. After eating the food on the table in a matter of seconds, Miaka guiltily admits that "Miaka" IS her shadow, demonstrating her irresponsible, insesitive self.

Nuriko is again enraged and yells at "Miaka". "Miaka" then blows the big secret, and so Nuriko runs away in humiliation. "Miaka" pulls Hotohori aside to talk. She tells him that she doesn't want to go back to her world, and she raises her face to kiss Hotohori. To her surprise, Hotohori draws his sword and pushes "Miaka" away. Tamahome approaches, and Hotohori warns him to be cautious of the fake. Telling "Miaka" that the real Miaka would never act in such ways, Hotohori prepares to attack. But, enexpectedly, the mirror "Miaka" was holding shone with bright light and shot towards the two seishi. It was apparently a special mirror, with the capability to enprisoning a person inside, and it can also absorb anybody's energies and transfer it to "Miaka".

Now desperate, Miaka finally thinks of a way to save her friends. Knowing that "Miaka" in actuality is Miaka herself, Miaka concludes that the fake will disappear when the real one does. Miaka breaks a plate on the table, and takes on of the sharp-edged pieces. She then stabs herself, screaming "DISAPPEAR!". That same time, blood gushed out of "Miaka's" chest, as if she was stabbed in the same spot, and Yui felt like the same thing happened to her...

"Miaka" turned into a monster-like being, and is weakened. Seeing this, Tamahome attacks at once, but gets hit on his arm. Hotohori backs him up and slices the monster. A boulder suddenly appears out of nowhere and drops on the monster, thanks to Nuriko. As the tense atmosphere between the seishi disappears, the real, dying Miaka appears beside the broken mirror.

Nuriko then orders the two men to turn away, since he is going to see Miaka's wound on the chest. He attends to the wound, and lessens the bleeding. But, Miaka's life is still in danger. Nuriko tells the others that Miaka has lost a lot of blood, and those lost must be replaced for her to live. Meanwhile, Miaka's thoughts are wandering. Thinking that she doesn't deserve to live anymore because of the hardships she has caused. Yui calls out to Miaka and snaps her out of these thoughts, opening her eyes and ears to the truth that there are people who care for her, calling for her. And that very moment, Miaka hears her friends calling her name. Tamahome picks up the piece of the shattered plate and prepares to give his blood to Miaka. Hotohori does the same and holds his sword to his arm. Blood is spilled and Miaka stirs...

Opening her eyes, Miaka sees Nuriko, Hotohori, and Tamahome. Smiling, she thanks her friends for saving her. Suddenly, the forest surroundings change into beautiful mountains, and a mysterious voice speaks... "Well done, Suzaku no Miko...I am the one you are looking for..." It was Taiitsukun...

Taiitsukun is revealed to an short, old, wrinkly-faced woman. She takes the four to her place and orders the kawaii Nyan-nyan to heal the travelers. "Naosu-naosu!" Taiitsukun tells them that there is a way for Miaka to get back to her world, but she can't do that because Miaka is weak due to her blood loss. Again, Hotohori and Tamahome volunteer to give their blood. Miaka disapproves, but she can do nothing to stop them. Now recovered, Miaka is ready to go back, promising to Tama-kun that she will return to them to visit after she gets 100% well.

And so the process starts. the catalysts connecting the FY world and the real world are Miaka and Yui's uniforms. The seishi concentrate their chi (or ki. I use both in this site^^) to Miaka, while Miaka tries to concentrate of going back to her world. But the more she thinks of going back, the more her thoughts turn to her friends from Konan. Yui cries to Miaka, and begs her to come back. Finally, after mind-wracking concentration, Miaka is bathed in red light, and is teleported back to her world through the power of Suzaku. At the same time Suzaku travels to Miaka's world, a blue light goes into the FY world.

In the library, Miaka is being surrounded with red sparks, and she stands up. She looks for Yui in the library, but her friend is nowhere to be seen. She returns the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho to the shelf, and leaves the library. Outside, it's already dark, and Miaka bumps into 2 of her classmates. Miaka embraces them, saying that she missed them. But to her surprise, the two told her that she had no reason to, since only a few hours passed since the last time they saw each other. Bewildered, Miaka goes in a phone booth and dials Yui's number. The phone rings once... and again...and again...

Hotohori is in a conference with his advisers, when a red light appears and Miaka falls right on top of him. Hotohori was very happy to see Miaka again after 3 months. It turns out that time in the FY world isn't synchronized with that of Miaka's. Then Hotohori tells Miaka that Kutou troops are advancing into Konan. Miaka runs off to see Tama-kun, and bumps into Nuriko. They're so happy to see each other, but Miaka suddenly turns serious and asks Nuriko about Tama-kun. To Miaka's disappointment, Tamahome left a few days ago to make money. Miaka decides to look for him, and Nuriko volunteers to dress up as a male and go with her.

On the way there, Nuriko bets that Tamahome likes Miaka a lot, and tells her that Tama-kun has been in a state of shock after she left. Suddenly, their horse was blocked, and Miaka is thrown off the horse. A shadowy figure approaches Miaka and its very familiar voice speaks: "Identify yourself." A few more men with torches arrive...and the light reveals Tamahome standing in front of Miaka. Suddenly forgetting their surroundings, the overjoyed Tamahome and Miaka hug in reconciliation. It turns out that Tamahome has been acting as a bodyguard for that village since Kutou troops were attacking recently. Suddenly, the torches' lights suddenly die out, and as everybody was busy trying to light up a fire, Miaka is suddenly pulled by mysterious hands from the bushes...