episode 41-44

Episode 41-Sunbeam of Revival

Suboshi then turns on Miaka, furious at what Yui has told him is all her fault. He threatens to "mess her up" the same way Yui was. When all seems hopeless, Miaka is rescued by Tamahome. Yes, Tamahome. Seems he did not die from his injuries, but was nursed back to health by an elderly couple, Tokaki and Subaru, former Byakko seishi. Tokaki used to tutor Tamahome when he was a child, and trained him a little in the martial arts. Also, we find that with Tomo's death, the illusion that trapped the other seishi was broken and they are all fine and dandy. Anyhow, Suboshi runs off, taking Amiboshi with him, and returns his brother to his adoptive parents. Tokaki and Subaru take everyone back to their place to recouperate. Tokaki takes Tamahome aside and tells him that after Miaka calls Suzaku she will have to return to her world *without him*, so he'd better end this relationship while he still can (he knows this from experience; a fellow seishi had the misfortune of falling in love with his miko and this is what happened). So Tamahome breaks up with Miaka, without telling her why. The old couple have this adopted daughter named Xifang (beautiful girl, really), and she begins to make the moves on Tamahome (at Tokaki's suggestion) to make him forget about Miaka. Meantime, she tells Miaka of an abandoned temple nearby, where if lovers meet before sunset and kiss, they will never be parted. The catch? Said temple is overrun by monsters at the moment.


Episode 42-The Wall That Can't Be Climbed

After walking in on Tamahome-nearly-kissing-Xifang, Miaka begs him to meet her at this temple, promising that if he doesn't show, she'll accept that it's over between them and she won't bother him any more. Tamahome fights the desire to go for as long as he can, but at the last minute he tells Tokaki that it's too late, he's already too much in love with Miaka to end it now...and with that he races off to the temple. But he's too late; Miaka is gone. Miaka, for what it's worth, spots Yui and Nakago travelling while she's waiting at the temple. Nakago spots (or senses) her there, too, but doesn't say anything about it. Miaka thinks to herself that if she can just reach Yui and tell her the truth about Nakago, everything will be okay. So she leaves the temple and follows them. We hear news that Tatara, the third Byakko seishi -- the one who loved Byakko no Miko and is guarding her shinzaho -- has been kidnapped by the Seiryuu side and held against his will. Miaka has found the Seiryuus' and is sneaking around when she's discovered by Nakago. She tells him off and lets him know that she plans to tell Yui the truth about what happened. Nakago doesn't care much; he just has his newest seishi in tow, Miboshi, perform some magic and take Miaka's voice away then he lets Miaka see Yui, only of course, now she can't explain anything.


Episode 43-Identical Outcomes of Farewell

Sometime in here, in the real world, Tetsuya and Keisuke (Miaka's brother and his buddy) are running around trying to locate the former Byakko no Miko, who is still alive (although she's something like 105 years old now). They eventually do find her, old and ailing, while she's watched over by her adopted grandson. Meanwhile, Yui suddenly seems to warm up to Miaka, apologizing for all she's done and promising that she'll help Miaka and Tatara escape. Miaka asks Tatara (who's been chained up to the wall) for the shinzaho, and he grudgingly gives it (a mirror) to her. He tells the story of Byakko No Miko, Suzuno, and how he loved her but they had to part after she summoned Byakko. They wished to be together forever, but that is the only wish that the God cannot grant. Miaka is devistated, realizing why Tama broke up with her...they will eventually have to separate. But it's a trap. Yui tricks Miaka into giving her the shinzaho, then locks Tatara and Miaka up while she runs off to the roof of the building to set up the Seiryuu summoning ceremony. Tatara frees them both with his seishi powers (power over plants), and while they are out and about Miboshi appears and attacks them. The other seishi arrive on the scene and Tatara succeeds in killing Miboshi. But Tatara is over 100 years old and weakening rapidly. The strain of his efforts proves too much and he passes away. In the real world, at this same moment, Oosugi Suzuno, former Byakko no Miko, breathes her last as well. Keisuke, Tetsuya, and her adopted grandson see the spirit of a 15-year old girl run outside to join a 20-year old Tatara, and the two are finally reunited in death.


Episode 44-Translent Defense

Miboshi is not too worried; with his dying breath, he possesses Chiriko's body and begins to wreak havoc from there. Chiriko/Miboshi is summoning up huge monsters to kill the seishi, etc, and all looks hopeless. But Chiriko takes Miboshi's prayer wheel and stabs himself with it. Repeatedly. He realizes that if he dies, Miboshi won't have a vessel to inhabit and thus Miboshi will cease to exist. So, long story short, Chiriko dies a painful (but heroic and brave) death. Nakago and Soi show up and start attacking everyone as well, but they don't do any real damage; it's more to stall than anything else. Why? Guess who's just about ready to summon Seiryuu on the rooftop? As Nakago and Soi depart, all the remaining seishi rush up to the roof to stop Yui. But it turns out that they were tricked...Yui's summoning Seiryuu from another rooftop nearby. They're too late. Yui finishes the summoning incantation and Seiryuu, the blue dragon, appears in the sky.