Ashitare of Seiryuu Seven leaps to attack Miaka, but Nuriko saves her and manages to burn Ashitare by Chiriko's signal flares although he's hurt. He then told her that he's going to save her until his last breath draws, causes Miaka to think Nuriko is not a girl anymore. On the same time, Tamahome encounters Yui and tried to convince her to stop summoning Seiryu and come with him. She then told him that Tamahome is just a character in a book and that Miaka and Tamahome can't be together unless they summon Suzaku. Suboshi then came and Tamahome ran away, leaving Yui undecided of her fate. Reunited, Miaka, Nuriko and Tamahome found a house and stay there. Still mindful of what Yui said, Tamahome goes to have to drink by himself. Nuriko then approaches and tells Tamahome that he's ready to die for Miaka, admitting that he also love Miaka as a man. The next day, Nuriko decided he'll go find the Shinzaho and leave Tamahome and Miaka together to strengthen their relationship and find Chichiri and the others. Once there, when Nuriko was about to remove the large boulder blocking the cave of the hidden Shinzaho, he is found by Ashitare.
青龍七星士・尾宿（あしたれ）に襲われた美朱と柳宿は、柳宿の機転によりなんとか尾宿を退ける事に成功する。一方、特烏蘭の街角で偶然唯に再会した鬼宿は唯を説得するのだが、もう後戻りはできないと鬼宿が神座宝の在処を知った事を心宿に伝えるのだった。その夜、唯の言葉が頭から離れない鬼宿は、美朱にどこかぎこちない態度をとってしまう。
