02x07 - To Die for the Star of Suzaku

[bunniefuu]

Lady Miaka,
the Priestess of Suzaku...

...has arrived in the city of
Touran in Hokkan in search of...

...the Shinzaho, an object which
will allow her to summon Suzaku.

The Lady Miaka
discovered a monument...

...covered with ancient
writing inside the city.

Tamahome learned the
Shinzaho's location...

...from a man who understood
the writing's meaning.

On his way back, Tamahome
encountered the Lady Yui...

...who is now the Priestess of Seiryu!

A character in a book...?

And at that moment,
the Lady Miaka...

I've found you!

...was att*cked by Ashitare,
one of the Seiryu Seven!

DIE!!!

Miaka!!!

Nuriko!

What is that thing?!

It's a monster!

Nuriko! Look! Look! Look!

The h-h-h-hand...!

One of the Seiryu Seven!

The holy sword!
The holy sword!

Where's Hotohori's holy sword?!

Old flesh never tastes good.
Now it's your turn!

I left it in the luggage
I left with Chichiri!

You did it, Nuriko!
He ran away!

Looks like Chirko's signal
flare came in handy.

Nuriko, are you all
right?! Hang on!

" Nuriko had used the power of
fire to drive Ashitare off..."

"...but he was still wounded.
The Priestess escaped unharmed."

Keisuke! This book you're
reading is bad for my heart!

It's turning my hair white, man!

Are you okay?

It's nothing serious. Anyway,
I wonder if Tamahome's all right.

Tamahome...

Hey! Come on, stop!

Let me go!

What do you mean,
"a character in a book" ?!

What are you saying I am?!

Look, I don't understand what you
said to me, but I do know this:

If you summon Seiryu,
you'll regret it!

Besides that, if I'm
not what you want...

...then it's really Miaka,
isn't it?!

We've already learned where the Shinzaho is.

Just forget this and get
away from the Seiryu Seven!

There's still time!

Get away from Lady Yui!

Wait! Tamahome!

Never mind! Let him go!

Lady Yui?!

You love him, Lady Yui,
so... So...!

Mind your own business!
I don't feel well.

I'm going back to see Nakago.

Huh? But...

If you summon Seiryu,
you'll regret it!

There's still time!

There's still time...

Um, thanks.
For saving me before.

What are you talking about?

That's just what the
Suzaku Seven does, right?

I'll always be ready
to protect you.

Nuriko, what's wrong?
You're acting just like a boy!

Snap out of it!

It may not be like me, but I
think this really is the real me.

Because you're finally over
your little sister's death?

That's part of it...

And maybe because of how
strongly you affected me.

I haven't done anything.

Wanna know what it was?

It is...

It is...?

...something I won't say.

Forget it.
You don't have to know.

Nuriko...

I said forget it.

But, this means you don't want to be
a woman and get Hotohori, right?

Hey, that's right!

His Highness has to have the
greatest happiness there is!

But is there any
woman besides me...

...who's as beautiful,
modest, and loving?!

I knew you hadn't
really changed.

Looks like he isn't following me.

Damn you, Suboshi!
Next time, I'll make you sorry!

Who cares about you?!
You're just a character in a book!

What's that mean?
Would Miaka know?

Does she know and
is hiding it from me?

Are Miaka and I not
meant for each other?

Tamahome!

Tamahome?

Oh, dear! Did I make this
snowball a little too big?

Dammit, Nuriko! Don't do that
when a guy's trying to think!

Sorry, sorry.

Still, I'm glad
you're back in one piece.

So, how'd it go?
What about the Shinzaho?

If she doesn't summon Suzaku...

...you could never spend
your life with Miaka!

You're just a
character in a book!

Y- Yeah... I found it.

It's about 200 leagues away...

...at the top of a
mountain called Mt. Koku.

Getting it'll be simple.

We'd better tell Tasuki
and the others right now.

Where's the signal flare?

Um, about that...

So, the beast man's
weakness is fire...

And then you had the nerve
to come crawling back here?!

Do you know what
this is, Ashitare?

Nakago, Ashitare's
been b*rned. That will...

Who was it that saved you
from being treated like...

...an animal in that village
in the woods of Kutou?

Shall I make you remember?

The snow isn't letting up.

Lucky for us
we got this room!

No, lucky is getting
away in one piece...

...from that bruiser
you described.

Hey, I happen to be one of the
Suzaku Seven, too, you know!

Exactly! Nuriko protected me!

I see...

What?

- Tamahome, what's....?
- Do you ...?!

This tea tastes great.

How... How did you
get to this world?

No, never mind.

I'm going downstairs to get
something stronger to drink.

Tamahome...
What happened to him?

I went easy on
you for now.

Fail me again and
I won't be so forgiving!

We're back.

Suboshi.
Did you find the Shinzaho?

Well, about that...

Yes, it seems we have.

If you summon Seiryu,
you'll regret it!

I know. I know, but...!

Tamahome told me.

That they'd found
the Shinzaho's location.

I...

I can't turn back now!

God, I'm pathetic! Letting
what she said get to me...

I wonder if Miaka
could answer this one?

What did she mean
I'm a character in a book?

Ta-ma-ho-me...

Oh, dear! I only meant
to give you a little tap!

Why can't you understand
that a little tap for you...

...is a full blown punch
for a normal person!

Please, please, please...

So, why the long face, Tama?

Shut up!

Ohh... You get
angry so easily!

You're like a little kid!

Now look....

Hey, Mister!
Mix up one part paichu...

...three parts laochu,
and four parts shoukouchu.

Oh, and an order of wontons
and chonsai with that.

Sure thing.

Oh, thanks.

What's wrong?

What?

Well, it looked like you were
going to ask Miaka something before.

If you keep on being so
hesitant with her...

...Miaka's gonna get
taken by somebody else.

There you go. Paichu,
laochu, and shoukouchu.

Thanks.

What is that?

A Nuriko Special.
Wanna taste?

Uh, sure.
So, who'd take her from me?

Well, me, for example...

God, why are you choking?

I know Nuriko said to leave it
to him, but I'm still nervous.

You?! I thought you said
you loved His Highness!

That's the woman in me.

It's strange, you know?

Does cutting your hair really
make you feel this different?

Today, I was ready
to die to save Miaka.

Ever since I cut my hair...

...l've felt myself becoming
more and more like a man.

What happened was the
first time I realized it.

I think...as a man,
I've always loved Miaka.

I won't say.

Was that it?

Nuriko...

But you don't have to worry.
Nothing has changed between us.

I love you, too, Tamahome.
I also love His Highness.

And Tasuki. And everybody.

I think of it this way:

I'm proud to have been born one
of the seven stars of Suzaku.

That's why I can finally
stop trying to be my sister.

I'm glad that I was born to
protect the Priestess of Suzaku.

Because, if I hadn't,
I never would have met you...

...or Miaka or any
of the others.

Here you go.

Oh, thanks.

Anyway, I want you to try to
get your act together!

Because if Miaka stays
in this world forever...

...you two will
always be together!

Sorry.

I eavesdropped
on you before.

I want Miaka to be happy.
With you, I mean.

So I'll always be
watching out for you.

Always.

This is weird.
You talk like a woman...

...but I'd swear you sound
more like a big brother.

Hey, you're right!
I'm older than you, aren't I ?

Well, then, talk to your big
brother! Did something happen?

No, but thank you.
I feel better now.

That's right...

Protecting Miaka.

That's all I have
to concentrate on now.

And be proud to be
one of the Suzaku Seven.

All right! That's the spirit!

So, wanna have a pre-victory
bash for getting the Shinzaho?

How about one of that
thing you ordered?

A Nuriko Special?

Gimme one of those!

Oh, quiet!
That's too strong for a kid!

Nuriko... Thank you.

I'll never forget
how you feel about us.

It's cleared up!
It's cleared up!

My head's k*lling me...

I'm not surprised.

You were gulping down some
pretty strong liquor last night!

Right?

R- Right...

I have to act like
I usually do.

Anyway, the problem now
is Chichiri and the others.

I guess we'll have
to look for them.

But we have to get to the
Shinzaho as soon as we can!

We can't get sloppy now!

Okay, you and Nuriko will look
for Chichiri and the others.

I'll head out for the
Shinzaho ahead of you.

Idiot. I said nothing's
changed between us.

What the heck
are you thinking?

You and Miaka look for Chichiri.

I'll go on ahead
to the Shinzaho.

It's at the top
of Mt. Koku, right?

Yeah.

Well, shall we get running?

Be careful.

I'll be fine, just fine.

Tamahome...
He's so distracted.

That must be it...

When you went with
that boy before!

I should have done all
I could to stop you!

Wha...?

I'm sorry, Tamahome!

You had to do whatever
that guy wanted...

...to find out about the
Shinzaho, didn't you?!

And then he must have...!
Must have...!!!

Made you do all sorts
of things with him!

Like I could be
forced into THAT?!

You mean, you did it anyway?

I didn't do anything!

That way!

Is that clear, Ashitare?

Follow the Suzaku Seven when
they go to the Shinzaho...

Then k*ll them!

Even if he didn't tell me to,
there's no way I'd ever forget...

...the scent of the one
who did this to me!

I wasn't going
to tell you this, but...

I...ran into Yui before.

Suboshi showed up
pretty soon after...

...so we didn't have
much time to talk.

I tried to convince her to come
back, but she wouldn't listen.

I see...
So, that's what happened.

Did Yui look well?
Did she say anything?

No, nothing.

Oh.

Yui... We're drifting
even further apart.

I want to fight the
Seiryu Seven, but not Yui.

I've decided to stay here
once I've summoned Suzaku.

But l have to get Yui back
to our old world. I have to...

I wonder if Tamahome and Miaka
have found Chichiri yet.

Miaka, huh...

If Korin had lived, would
that have happened to me?

Made to feel love and sorrow
By every expression...

...and action of
the person I loved...?

Is this it?

Is this where the Shinzaho is?

That monster door is a
definite " keep out" sign.

Looks like I was the
right one to come here.

You!

I've found you,
you son of a...!

"On Mt. Koku, before the sealed
door leading to the Shinzaho..."

"...Nuriko of the Suzaku Seven met
Ashitare of the Seiryu Seven..."

"...and their battle commenced."

Thank you for leading
me to the Shinzaho.

Now I'm going to enjoy k*lling
you and savoring your flesh.

And after that,
I shall enjoy devouring...

...the rest of the Suzaku Seven,
especially the Priestess of Suzaku!

Don't make me laugh.

I won't let a monster like you...

...lay a finger on Miaka
or any of my friends!

I'm taking you down myself!.
Now come on!

Nuriko.
Always at Miaka's side.

Always looking out for her.
Always striving so hard...

An irreplaceable person who
protects her as they travel on.

But the time to say
goodbye has finally come.

Next time,
" Nuriko, Eternal Farewell."

The tears which accompany
it cannot be stopped...