Miaka asks if Tamahome knew that  he was a Suzaku seishi, and he's like of course. She then asks Hotohori the same who replies with a yes. Miaka thinks to herself then that must have been the reason they were so nice to me. This thought depresses her a bit but becomes her cheery self again when Hotohori asks if anything is wrong. Hotohori then orders his attendants to gather all those in the kingdom who excel in martial and literary arts.

Her brilliant plan is that whoever doesn't attack her would be a warrior. Anyway she insults them relentlessly and calls them limp noodles which then has all the remaining guards chasing after her. Miaka runs into a pavilion, but one of the support columns are hit by someone's axe/weapon. Tamahome runs to help her, beating up people on the way. He sees that the building is about to collapse and that Miaka is not moving. He runs at her and flings himself on top of her just as the supports give way and the gazebo collapses.

Yui who is still reading what is happening to Miaka suddenly feels a pain in her leg. She looks down and she has been wounded and we can see blood on her skirt form the cut on her thigh. She continues reading and notices that she is hurt in the exact same spot as Miaka.

In the book world Hotohori is desperately trying to remove the rubble from the fallen gazebo. His advisors are telling him to stay back and safe. Hotohori keeps pulling off rocks and tells them to get help. The advisor people tell them that all the warriors around them could have helped if they weren't unconscious (way to go Tamahome...)

Underneath the collapsed building Miaka can't believe she is still alive, but then she feels the pain in her leg and knows she isn't dead. She then notices that Tamahome is kneeling over top of her supporting the rubble from crushing them both. Miaka tells him that he is going to kill himself and to stop it. Tamahome replies that he is there to protect her and will always do so. His symbol glows brightly on his forehead as he uses all his strength to keep both of them safe.

Kourin walks up to Hotohori and asks if she could help. Hotohori looks on shocked and Kourin easily picks up large heavy pieces of the collapsed building and tosses them over her head. She does this until Tamahome and Miaka are uncovered. She mutters something about Miaka being still alive and how lucky she is. Hotohori is telling Tamahome what a good job he did protecting the priestess and he has proved himself. He also calls people to attend to Tamahome's wounds.

Miaka wonders if Tamahome only saved her because he of a stupid oath, and says it wouldn't have done anyone good if he had got himself killed. Tamahome tells her he does what he wants, and will get paid. Miaka thinks how it broke her heart to see Tamahome struggle to save her. Hotohori asks Kourin about her strength and as she takes a step back he sees  a glowing red symbol on the left side of her chest. Hotohori  starts walking towards her with an outstretched hand wanting a better look at the symbol. Kourin thinks he is trying to grab her or something. And blushing Hotohori asks about the symbol on her chest.

Kourin tells them her celestial name is Nuriko. She tells him she has been living in the Emperor's Harem for the past year.  Hotohori releases her from his Harem as she is one of the warriors and thanks her for saving Miaka.   Nuriko looks at Miaka and says that she didn't do it to save her, but to save Tamahome. She then goes over to Tamahome who is being treated for a few of his wounds and kisses him. Miaka looks a bit mad.

Later Miaka is in her room washing her clothes. She has finally gotten the blood out of her skirt, and has also bandaged the wound on her leg. She is thinking how Nuriko bugs her and how she clings to Tamahome. Miaka also thinks that she will have to become friends with her. So that they will be able to work together to summon Suzaku. Miaka then takes off her bra to wash it.

Of course just as soon as she starts washing it Tamahome charges in. Miaka freaks and asks if he ever knocks. There's a bit of an awkward pause to, but when Tamahome recovers he asks Miaka if there is any place to hide. He's too slow however as Nuriko comes in and ties him up in some scarf thing and drags him out of the room apologizing to Miaka for the trouble.

Miaka after some more contemplation decides the best way to get close with Nuriko is to become her servant. Nuriko accepts her as a servant but lays down some ground rules. She tells Miaka that she can work for her only if she doesn't interfere with Tamakins and herself. Tamahome who is being sat upon at the moment is complaining, but nobody seems to really pay attention to him.

Miaka starts working for Nuriko, but it seems she can't do anything right. When she brushes Nuriko's long purple hair Nuriko yells at her for pulling too hard and trying to rip her hair out. Later when Miaka is scrubbing her porch Nuriko tells her she can't eat until she is done. She also tells Miaka that the porch is really dirty and it must be perfect. As Miaka is on hands and Knees scrubbing it Nuriko is behind her tossing dirt around. When Miaka turns around she sees the whole deck she just finished completely covered in filth.

For some reason I can't remember Miaka gets a table thrown at her by Nuriko. Tamahome sees this and is upset He starts to tell Nuriko he hates it...But that is as far as he got because Nuriko started to whimper asking if Tama-baby hated her. He says no, and Nuriko clings to him saying that he does love me or something like that. Miaka who had been lying unconscious under the table wakes up to see Tamahome and Nuriko hugging so she picks up the table and hurls it at Nuriko who turns so it hits Tamahome instead.

The sun is setting and Miaka is sitting in another Gazebo thing looking over the water. She is unhappy. Tamahome comes crawling in because he is still tied up. Miaka asks if he was supposed to be at dinner with Nuriko right now. He answers that she went to go complain about the food so he snuck away. Miaka wonders why he left, aren't him and Nuriko happy together. He explains that he could never be happy in a relation like that.

Miaka goes to takes some steps back, but she falls. Tamahome quickly goes over to see what is wrong. He notices the bandages wrapped around her leg. He tells her that she has to take better care of herself and that she is lucky he is carrying extra bandages on him (why? I don't know) He gently rewraps her leg and Miaka thinks about how upset Nuriko will be, and how nice it is to have Tamahome bandage her leg.