Tamahome begins battle with Hotohori with the intention of killing him as well as Miaka, who tries to escape from the room where she is kept in. The battle progresses with Hotohori gaining advantage over Tamahome, but all of a sudden, Hotohori is distracted when he sees Miaka, who has managed to escape from her imprisonment, running towards them. Miaka screams, and in this instance Tamahome is distracted, and Hotohori runs his sword right through Tamahome's torso. Miaka chillingly screams out Tamahome's name, running towards him. Even as Tamahome tries to kill her in his weakened state, Miaka kisses him, and Tamahome finally breaks free of the curse Nakago had set. Mitsukake heals him, after which he returns to Kutou to retrieve the "Universe of the Four Gods" scroll. Yui allows him to leave, and although Miaka is completely glad upon Tamahome's return, all is not as it seems. Nakago has set one more trap for them.