episode 1-4

Episode 1- The Girl of the Legend

When Miaka's best friend Yui asks her to tag along while she returns a library book before cram school, Miaka doesn't think twice about going. If only she knew what adventures awaited her and her best friend. While at the library, the two 15-year olds stumble across an ancient Chinese manuscript, cryptically titled, "The Universe of the Four Gods." Out of curiosity Yui begins to read it out loud for them both. "This is the story of a girl who gathered the seven Seishi of Suzaku and gained omnipotent powers. The book itself is an incantation. Whoever finishes reading it will also receive these powers. When the page is turned, the story will become the truth and begin." Suddenly, the girls are engulfed by a red light and transported into the book. When they come to they find themselves in some desolate spot in the middle of nowhere. Then they are attacked by thugs. Fortunately are rescued by a young man who has the character of "Oni" (Ogre) glowing red on his forehead. After he makes short order of disposing of the crooks, he asks the girls for a fee for his services, and when they can't pay, he prepares to leave. While Miaka is rooting around in her pockets for some token to offer the man, Yui rushes after him and is mysteriously returned to the present world, where she picks up the book and is astonished to find that the events she and Miaka just experienced are described in the book.


Episode 2- Suzaku No Miko

Miaka remains in the book world, which she comes to recognize as a land resembling ancient China. Since Miaka doesn't know where Yui has gone, she hunts down her mysterious savior from earlier, and, after he has rescued her from another attack, she asks him to help her find Yui. He introduces himself as So Kichiku, asking her to call him Tamahome. While they search, they encounter the emperor of Konan while he is out in a procession. Miaka gets herself into trouble with the emperor's guards and the two are arrested. At the emperor's palace Miaka meets up with a pretty and mysterious ... person ... named Hotohori, who later is revealed to be the emperor himself. Hotohori explains to Miaka the story of the "Universe of the Four Gods": When the land of Konan is in trouble, a girl from a strange world will appear and become their land's saviour, Suzaku no Miko. She will gather seven star-honored warriors (shichiseishi) whose duty it is to protect her, then summon the animal god Suzaku and be granted the power to make wishes come true. Miaka excitedly accepts the position, and finds that of the seven seishi it is now her duty to gather.


Episode 3- The Seven Seishi of Suzaku

Hotohori, as emperor, holds in his possession a sacred scroll with the legend written upon it. He explains that the four Gods are 28 constellations, which are divided by East, West, South, and North, each having 7 constellations. In the southern sky is Suzaku, and it's 7 seishi Chichiri, Tamahome, Nuriko, Hotohori, Chiriko, Tasuki, and Mitsukake. Now that Miaka has accepted her mission, Miaka, Tamahome, and Hotohori set out to find the remaining 5 seishi. First Hotohori summons the strongest, smartest, etc. men in the kingdom to the palace where Miaka tests their honor by insulting them and Tamahome tests their skills by beating them all up. In the ensuing battle, a structure is toppled to the ground and a very unfortunate Miaka is caught in the rubble. Tamahome manages to make it in time to shield her body. As Yui is reading, blood appears on her leg. She realizes that what the Miko experiences, she experiences also. Enter a beautiful court princess with super-human strength who introduces herself as Kourin. Kourin quickly tosses the offending rubble aside, reveals herself as the third shichiseishi, Nuriko, and promptly makes a pass at Tamahome.


Episode 4- Uneven Communications

Miaka soon falls ill with a fever, and she begins to long for home, concerned about Yui, worrying about her high school entrance exams, etc. Meanwhile, Yui has had the strangest 2 hours (equivalent to several days in the book), experiencing every detail that happens to Miaka. The next morning, Tamahome went to the city with Nuriko. Miaka asks what Tamahome thinks of her, and before he can answer they get approached by thugs. They try to bargain with Tamahome about selling the Miaka to them, but Tamahome beats the crap out of them, as Nuriko watches from behind a wall. Miaka then told Tamahome about her feelings but Tamahome, unfortunately, rebuffs Miaka's confession of love. Miaka then collaspes onto the ground from a sudden fever.