The story really begins when Miaka Yuuki and her best friend, Yui Hongo, find a book called "Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho" in a restricted important documents room in the National Library. The book sucks them into the "Universe of the Four Gods." They meet trouble immediately as a small group of slave traders try to capture them but they are saved by the first of the Suzaku Seishi, Tamahome.
Yui gets pulled out of the book without Miaka realizing it. Miaka then sets out in search of Yui and ends up in the empire of Konan. Miaka thinks Tamahome kidnapped Yui so she asks around for a boy with the symbol of the "ogre" on his forehead (although I believe this translation is somewhat inaccurate as the symbol on his forehead means "ghost" or "spirit"). She ends up getting cornered by some street gang and is once again rescued by Tamahome. At this point, Tamahome is still obsessed with earning money so he insists Miaka pays him for his services, especially if she wants him to help her look for Yui.
Miaka still manages to get herself in trouble, though, when she dares to approach the royal entourage and ask the Emperor (who is later revealed to be the second Suzaku seishi, Hotohori) for a stone from his crown to pay Tamahome to help her look for Yui. They get arrested but end up escaping quite easily. Miaka runs into Emperor Hotohori (whom she thinks is a woman because of his remarkable beauty) and he promises her that she will not come to harm. After it is revealed to her that he is the emperor, he asks that she become the Suzaku no Miko and save their country by summoning the god Suzaku. She agrees, wanting her wishes to be granted, and the journey begins...
The story really begins when Miaka Yuuki and her best friend, Yui Hongo, find a book called "Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho" in a restricted important documents room in the National Library. The book sucks them into the "Universe of the Four Gods." They meet trouble immediately as a small group of slave traders try to capture them but they are saved by the first of the Suzaku Seishi, Tamahome.
