Opening theme: Itooshii Hito no Tame Ni Ending theme: Tokimeki no Doukasen
Plot[]
Ashitare of the Seiryuu Seven leaps to attack Miaka, but Nuriko saves her and manages to burn Ashitare with Chiriko's signal flares. His opponent retreats and, injured, he then tells her that he's going to protect her until his last breath.
At the same time, Tamahome encounters Yui and tries to convince her to not summon Seiryuu and come with him and Miaka. Angered by the mention of her best friend's name, Yui reveals to him that he is just a character in a book and Miaka and Tamahome can't be together unless they summon Suzaku, but vows to never let that happen.
Suboshi came and Tamahome ran away, leaving Yui with more to think about as her place as a Priestess and as a friend.
Reunited, Miaka, Nuriko, and Tamahome find a house and stay there. Still thinking about what Yui said to him, Tamahome goes to have to drink by himself. Nuriko approaches him and tells Tamahome that he's willing to die for Miaka, admitting he loves her and will protect her under his oath as a warrior. Nuriko helps Tamahome see the true value and cost of being a Celestial Warrior of Suzaku and jests that he will be his big brother now, to which Tamahome agrees.
The next day, Nuriko decides he'll go up Mt. Kokureishin to scope it out. Tamahome and Miaka are left together to strengthen their relationship and to find Chichiri and the others. Once there, just as Nuriko was about to remove the large boulder blocking the cave of the hidden Shinzaho, he is found by Ashitare.