Unaware that Yui has been returned to the real world, Miaka continues to search for her, even asking for help from Tamahome, the boy who has twice rescued her from danger. Unfortunately, Miaka’s unfamiliarity with this new world lands both her and Tamahome in big trouble when they both end up getting captured by the Imperial guards! Meanwhile, Yui continues to read “The Universe of the Four Gods”, as yet unaware that the events of the story are an exact mirror of Miaka’s adventures…

The Imperial concubine Nuriko has been revealed to be the third seishi, but as Miaka soon discovers, helping the Priestess of Suzaku is the last thing on Nuriko's mind! As Nuriko continues her campaign to monopolise Tamahome and make Miaka's life hell, Miaka nonetheless decides that she must make friends with the concubine, no matter what it takes. But will even Miaka's open and honest nature be able to win over the selfish and scheming Nuriko?

As Miaka and the three seishi approach Taiitsukun’s home on Mount Taikyoku, the controller of the Universe of the Four Gods decides to set them a test by trapping Miaka in a mirror and replacing her with an evil reflection of herself. As her evil duplicate begins causing havoc among the seishi, Miaka realises that she and her reflection must share a connection, and resolves to put a stop to the evil Miaka by taking her own life…

Following a brief reunion, Tamahome decides to ride off and make a quick trip home- giving Miaka the perfect opportunity to sneak after him and find out more about man she loves- including just why he is so interested in making money! But there is danger in store for Miaka as hostile forces in the neighbouring land of Kutou send assassins after her- and it falls to a mysterious new protector to keep her safe…

Miaka and Yui's happy reunion is cut short as a young foreigner named Nakago reveals Miaka to be the priestess of Suzaku. While Miaka and Yui are being chased, Chichiri and Tamahome are having their own problems as they fight their way into Kutou only to have Nakago block their path. When Tamahome finally reunites with Miaka, they are unknowingly under the ever watchful gaze of an old friend.

Kutou sends a messenger to Kounan that says if they give up Tamahome, Kutou will stop the attacks on Kounan. Tamahome leaves in the middle of the night leaving Miaka a letter to tell her to find the remaining seishi. So with Nuriko, Chichiri, and Taiitsukun's magic mirror in place of Suzaku's Universe of the Four Gods, she sets off to find the rest of the Seishi.

Miaka, Tasuki, and Chichiri find themselves cornered by Nakago and his soldiers. Miaka distracts them, allowing Tasuki and Chichiri to escape, however she is thrown into prison. Finding a way to escape Miaka finally finds Tamahome, although he isn't the Tamahome she was looking for...

Now that Tamahome is back to his own self, Miaka can summon Suzaku with all the warriors. Tasuki and Tamahome begin their friendship by loud bickering. Nuriko has asked Miaka to ask Suzaku to grant her wish, but her mind is somewhere else. She still needs to talk to Hotohori because of that passionate kiss she had with him. Tamahome told Miaka that the only wish he wants is to be with Miaka. Hotohori then explains to Miaka that she is only granted three wishes and she must think carefully about them. As preparations begin, Nakago assures Lady Yui that the Priestess will not summon Suzaku, for there is a trap set for them. Miaka continued to prepare for the ceremony to summon Suzaku, unaware of the Kutou plot in motion against them, while a mysterious boy is headed to where Miaka is.

Tamahome goes to his village, but once there, he finds a terrible fate that has befallen on his family. Suboshi, who swore revenge for the death of his twin brother, Amiboshi, is in battle with Tamahome. Another member of the Seriyu Seven comes into play.

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.

It is revealed that Soi slipped Tamahome a potion when they kissed at the end of the last episode. Mitsukake’s cat sees through Soi’s illusion and tries to warn Tamahome, but does not succeed. Amiboshi offers Miaka a forgetfulness leaves potion to help her forget her painful past and she almost accepts them, but remembers Nuriko, Tamahome, and the rest of the Suzaku Seven and declines. Tamahome refuses the fake Miaka as not to ruin any chance they may still have to summon Suzaku. Amiboshi regains his memory and Miaka resolves to find Yui and help her summon Seiryuu. After Soi fails to drain Tamahome, Tomo reveals himself. Kutou soldiers attack Makan Village and Amiboshi kills them using his flute powers. After defeating the soldiers, Amiboshi senses Tomo. Tomo tells Tamahome of the rest of the Suzaku Seven who are stuck in his illusion slowly dying and attacks Tamahome. Amiboshi senses Tamahome, but Miaka does not want to see Tamahome. Amiboshi, wanting to help, goes to bring him back. As he departed his adoptive father gives him a vial of forgetfulness leaves juice (which also can be used to diminish pain from wounds). Instead of waiting for Amiboshi to return, as she was instructed, Miaka runs off to find Yui and runs into Soi.

Keisuke and Tetsuya finally arrive in Morioka. Miaka asks Tamahome to meet her in the tower that Xing told her the legend about. Tokaki reminds Tamahome that he and Miaka will be split up when Suzaku is summoned. While waiting at the tower, Miaka sees Yui and Nakago. After checking the police station and library, a taxi driver introduces Keisuke and Tetsuya to a friend with old newspapers on microfilm. They find the article regarding the Okuda murder and where it took place. Tamahome goes to the tower and finds Miaka’s hair tie. The rest of the Suzaku Seven join him, and Tasuki fries a monster about to eat him. Tokaki and his wife, Subaru, tell them that Tatara, the guardian of the Shinzaho of Byakko has been taken. Nakago finds Miaka sneaking into where he and Yui are staying. Miboshi, one of the Seiryu Seven, steals Miaka’s voice and Nakago knocks her unconscious. The Suzaku Seven follow Miaka. Keisuke and Testuya arrive at the location where the Okuda murder took place and find it is called Genbu Grotto. Miaka wakes up in a cell with Tatara and Yui enters.

Miaka and Yui are now back in their world, bringing Tamahome with them. The Suzaku Warriors in the book are defending their land of Konan against Nakago and his armies. Koji and the gang are back to save their former leader Tasuki, but Nakago and Suboshi leave the battle. Back in the real world, Tamahome is unconscious and Keisuke brings Miaka and Tamahome back to their home. He tells Miaka about Suzuno and Tatara on where they ended up. Tamahome finally awakes and wants to go back to fight but Miaka can't tell Tamahome that he is from a book. Tetsuya calls Keisuke that now they are in the book because that Tamahome came to the real world; the two worlds are not together. Yui sees Miaka and Tamahome together and is more furious than ever. Keisuke dresses Tamahome in handsome clothes rather than his armor so they can go out in public.

Tamahome continues to get beaten by Nakago. Miaka finds Yui while looking for Tamahome, but Yui is trapped in a barrier. Nakago senses Miaka running into his barrier and finishes Tamahome. Miaka tries to break the barrier and Nakago arrives. Keisuke uses the book to ask Tasuki and Chichiri to come save Miaka, using the bag she left there to enter the real world. Nakago attacks Miaka and threatens to kill her if Yui does not grant his wish for eternal life and immortality. As Yui prepares to use her last wish, Seiryuu, in beast form, appears and Yui disappears. Nakago advances on Miaka to end her, but Tasuki and Chichiri appear. Yui appears to Miaka while Miaka is unconscious from Nakago’s attack.