Miaka is kidnapped by a group of bandits and is nearly raped by the bandit leader, Eiken. Hotohori and Nuriko rescue her and force the bandit to tell them of the Suzaku Warrior among the bandits, and he is tortured until he tells them that it is Tasuki. However, just before Eiken can tell them who Tasuki was, Miaka is carried off by a young man whom Eiken calls Genrō and who escapes using talismans that summoned phantom wolves. Genrō brings Miaka to a secret place, where they are soon joined by Kōji, Genrō's fellow bandit and best friend. Miaka learns that Genrō was meant to be the bandit leader, and promises to help them, if in return they will help her find Tasuki. They fight with the rest of the bandits, and soon Tamahome mysteriously appears to help them. Genrō finally becomes what he was meant to be – the bandits' leader – and attains the tessen, a magical fan that emitted fire through a spell. Miaka approaches Tamahome, but Tamahome vanishes, and Miaka is distraught to learn that he was only a phantom, summoned by one of Genrō's talismans on which Miaka herself had written Tamahome's name.