Following a brief reunion, Tamahome decides to ride off and make a quick trip home- giving Miaka the perfect opportunity to sneak after him and find out more about man she loves- including just why he is so interested in making money! But there is danger in store for Miaka as hostile forces in the neighbouring land of Kutou send assassins after her- and it falls to a mysterious new protector to keep her safe…

Hotohori, unable to kill Miaka, goes with Tasuki and Miaka to request Myojuan's help to save Miaka. In Kutou, however, having heard of Miaka's illness, Tamahome tries to escape only be caught and severly punished. Meanwhile, once Hotohori, Nuriko, and Tasuki arrive at Myojuan's house, Myojuan reveals Shoka's terrible secret.

After Hotohori stabs Tamahome, Miaka runs to him. He tries to grab the sword to kill Suzaku No Miko. Miaka takes the sword and puts it in his hands.

After being attacked by lightning, Tamahome and the other two stayed in an abandoned cave and wait for Chichiri to track them down. Tamahome is still unconscious so Nuriko finds the chance to flirt with Miaka jokingly, by trying to kiss her. When awakened, Tamahome explains he has no chance to protect his loved ones, so he promised himself that he will always protect Miaka. Nuriko himself explains he also has a loved one too that he's unable to protect, which is his sister Korin. At the day she died, Nuriko began dressing like a girl in order to keep Korin with him. Just then lightning struck the cave where they were and Miaka and Tamahome began floating in the sea, and Nuriko manages to carry them off because the bracelets Taiitsukun gave him began transforming into armbands. At last, Chichiri and the others found them. While inside the ship, Soi began challenging Miaka and electrifying the others so they won't be able to save her. Miaka uses Hotohori's holy sword in order to protect herself from Soi, and she manages to defeat her. The storm Soi cast is slowly disappearing, and they finally found Hokkan, the land of Genbu, where the Shinzaho is located.

Soi reveals to Miaka that Nakago failed to rape her and that Tomo is fighting Tamahome and has him trapped. Amiboshi helps destroys Tomo’s illusion creating shell with his flute. Miaka arrives and Tamahome defeats Tomo. Miaka excitedly tells Tamahome that she is unspoiled. Amiboshi is trapped and Tamahome is stabbed and dragged off a cliff by Tomo (They only defeated an illusion of him). Tomo traps Miaka with an illusion created from her life force. He explains to Amiboshi that because of the manner in which the illusion was created Miaka is trapped inside the illusion physically, as opposed to just mentally. Tomo puts himself into the illusion as Aono, with the intention of taking Maika’s virginity. He uses the illusion to convince Miaka that she has a crush on him. Miaka sees Tamahome’s name in a book she is studying and becomes confused. Aono stops by and gives her his older brothers lucky exam pencil, putting an end to her confusion. Miaka agrees to go out with him. Aono asks if he can call her “Miaka” and asks her to call him “Tomo.” Back in the real world, Keisuke calls their mother and explains to her that they did not return home because Miaka is studying with him and Tetsuya.

Tamahome and Suboshi are drawn into battle and in the book, Hotohori and Nakago are in battle as well. This is a battle to the death.