Introduction

Miaka Yuuki is an ordinary, cheerful, fifteen-year-old girl, who one day embarks on an amazing adventure.

Miaka’s day had been more difficult than most days. Despite the fact that she began a refreshing classroom nap, her lovely, wondrous dreams about food were interrupted by the harsh voice of her English teacher. After accidentally clobbering the teacher with her desk, Miaka is sent to stand in the hall. After school, Miaka’s best friend Yui Hongo invites Miaka on a trip to the National Library with her.
 

While Yui returns a book, Miaka decides to explore the library on her own. It is in a little, out of the way area that Miaka becomes startled by the image of a magnificent, glittering red peacock. Surprised and curious, Miaka decides to follow the large bird. She is attracted by the sound of flapping wings and red sparks to a back room of the library. The Important Documents Reference Room was supposed to be locked to the public, but Miaka finds that she can enter easily.

Yui startles Miaka, finding her poking around in the little room. When Miaka tells Yui of her vision of the peacock, Yui bursts out laughing. As the two girls begin to turn away, a book suddenly drops to the floor, surprising them.
 

Intrigued, Miaka and Yui pick up the book, and begin reading. The book is the "Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho" or "Four Gods’ Sky and Earth", an ancient Chinese novel. The opening page reveals a picture of the large red peacock, followed by this text:

"This is a story about a girl who got the seven Seishi of Suzaku. She obtained omnipotent power and made her wishes come true. The story itself is an incantation. Whomever finishes reading it will receive this power. As soon as the page is turned, the story will become the truth and begin."

Miaka and Yui glance up at each other, wondering what it means, when all of a sudden they are surrounded by a red light from the book.

When the two girls wake up, they are shocked to discover that they are somewhere in the middle of an open flatland. As they stand, confused, wondering where they are and which way they should go, they are suddenly attacked by a group of men.

Yui, who is grabbed first, cries out to Miaka for help. Miaka, being quick on her feet, tries to fight the men, but soon finds herself overpowered. All looks hopeless, until all of a sudden, a young man appears. The man solidly beats the brutes with a series of fantastic martial arts moves. Miaka is surprised when she notices a glowing red character of "Oni" or "Ogre", on the young man’s forehead during the battle.
 

After the attackers depart, the man turns to Miaka and Yui, quickly demanding a reward for his service. When he discovers that neither girl has any money, he promptly deserts them.

Yui angrily rushes after the man, as Miaka sits and searches her pockets for change. While Miaka is distracted, the strange red light surrounds Yui a second time. When Miaka looks up, Yui is gone.

Yui opens her eyes to discover that she is back at the library, in the Important Documents Reference Room. She rushes about, calling Miaka’s name, but Miaka is nowhere to be found. The "Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho" lies open. Yui, dropping to her knees, can only dazedly read the text on the page. She reads about two girls who were attacked by men, and saved by a young man with the mark of the ogre on his forehead. Shocked, Yui realizes that she and Miaka had been transported to the world within the book. As Yui continues to read, she discovers Miaka is still trapped within the book world, and can only follow along as Miaka’s story unfolds.
 

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December 12, 1998