Fourteen year old Miaka Yukiâ's life centred on two things: passing her high school entrance exams, and getting to eat all of her favourite dishes! But when Miaka accompanies her friend Yui to the National Library, her whole life is turned upside down when she finds herself drawn to the Restricted Section, and to a mysterious book entitled "The Universe of the Four Gods". As Miaka and Yuki begin to read the story, they find themselves transported into the world of the book, a magical and mysterious land based on ancient China.

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.

Having agreed to become the Priestess of Suzaku, Miaka discovers that she must now gather the Stars of Suzaku, seven seishi (celestial warriors) who must be present in order to summon the Beast God Suzaku. Tamahome and Emperor Hotohori are the first two seishi, but five more still need to found, and to that end, Hotohori summons the land's greatest warriors and scholars to the palace. Are the remaining celestial warriors among their number, or will they end up finding the next seishi in an far unlikelier place?

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?

The stress and exhaustion of Miaka's adventures in the book have finally taken the toll, leaving the Priestess of Suzaku feverish and weak. Concerned over her health, Hotohori decides that the three seishi must take her to see Taiitsukun- the controller of the Universe of the Four Gods and the one person who might have the power to send Miaka back to her own world.

As Miaka and the three seishi approach Taiitsu-kun'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.

Miaka and the three seishi have made it Mount Taikyoku, but the incident with Miaka's duplicate has left all except Nuriko drained and weak. With Miaka suffering from severe blood loss, Taiitsukun uses her magic to transfuse blood from willing volunteers Hotohori and Tamahome. Her strength renewed, Miaka is ready to be sent home, but will even the combined power of the three seishi, and the strength of her friendship with Yui be enough to pull her back to the real world?

Miaka has made it back to the real world, but to her surprise, Yui is nowhere to be seen! After discovering that only two hours have passed since she came to the library, Miaka returns home, but predictably no one believes her story about the Universe of the Four Gods, and her brother even warns her to stay away from the book in future! Despite his warning, however, Miaka begins to suspect that Yui must have been drawn into the book when she was sent home, and resolves to return to the Universe of the Four Gods in order to find her friend.

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 the others have found Chichiri, the fourth seishi, but when he relays news that Kutou is searching for the Priestess of Seiryu, Miaka begins to suspect that the girl they are looking for is none other than Yui! Determined to find her friend without involving anyone else, Miaka slips away from Tamahome's watchful gaze, and begins making her way to the land of Kutou.

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.

After escaping from Nakago's clutches, Miaka and Tamahome find themselves at Taiitsukun's palace. There, Taiitsukun reveals to Miaka what happened to Yui three months ago. At this discovery, Miaka decides to stay away from Tamahome because Yui loves him too. Meanwhile, at Kutou, Yui agrees to become the priestess of Seiryuu and stop Miaka from summoning Suzaku. Tamahome's heart hangs in the balance...

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.

After agreeing to be led to the bandit leader, Miaka realizes the Eiken, the "Leader", is a fat, drunken, slob! Meanwhile, Hotohori worries about Miaka and finally decides to take action. After saving Miaka, a man named Genrou abducts Miaka...

After helping Genro regain the leadership of the bandits, Miaka asks him if he knows anyone named Tasuki (the next member of the Suzaku Seven that the mirror indicated). He says that he knows who he is, however it just happens to be the old leader of the bandits who died. Miaka, Hotohori and Nuriko feel their quest to be doomed, until someone mentions that to the north, there is a rumour that someone can bring the dead back to life. The three leave Genro and go in search of this mysterious person, however when they arrive in the town, all is not what it seems as an incurable disease is plaguing the town, and when Miaka becomes ill, the Suzaku members don’t know what’s the right thing to do.

Hotohori, unable to kill Miaka, goes with Tasuki and Miaka to request Myojuan's help to save Miaka. In Kutou, however, having heard of Miaka's illness, Tamahome tries to escape only be caught and severly punished. Meanwhile, once Hotohori, Nuriko, and Tasuki arrive at Myojuan's house, Myojuan reveals Shoka's terrible secret.

Four of five days later, the Suzaku Seven begin to become discouraged as the search for Chiriko, the last of the Suzaku Seven, rages on. They reach Tamahome's hometown, and there Mitsukake performs his healing magic and heals Tamahome's father. However, later that night, Kotou agents attack Miaka and the Suzaku Seven. In the distance, the sound of a flute appears. Who is this young boy?

With Chichiri's powers, Miaka and Tamahome were able to see each other. Together, they promised to meet each other where Tamahome would bring Yui and the stolen Universe of the Four Gods, now that the rest of the Suzaku Seven have been found. However, Yui won't let go of Tamahome so easily...

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...

Miaka, determined to show the letter to Tamahome waits at the tree, keeping her promise. Meanwhile, Nakago catches Chichiri, who went to look for Tamahome for Miaka. It doesn't take long for everyone to realize where Miaka ran off to, including Tamahome who meets Miaka there. Will Tamahome revert back to his old money loving self?...Goodbye.

Devastated by Tamahome's being controlled by Nakago, Miaka becomes mentally ill while Hotohori still attempts to cheer her up. But Miaka decides that when there is a problem as horrible as this, there is only one solution...

After Hotohori stabs Tamahome, Miaka runs to him. He tries to grab the sword to kill Suzaku No Miko. Miaka takes the sword and puts it in his hands.

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.

Hoping to prevent the ceremony from happening, the mysterious boy stood in front of the Konan palace. In the palace, Miaka is ready to summon Suzaku. When Suzaku didn’t appear, the traitor revealed himself as a Seriyu Seven, Amiboshi. Amiboshi uses his flute to kill Miaka and the Suzaku Seven, while another flute-music disrupts his wavelength to save them. Amiboshi rushes out while Tamahome, Tasuki, Chichiri, and Miaka go after him. Miaka tries to save Amiboshi from falling but it’s too late. The real Chiriko introduces himself, and they begin to summon Suzaku again but can’t. Taiitsukun tells Miaka that there is another way and she must travel to the land of Genbu.

Taiitsukun tells Miaka and the Suzaku Seven that she must travel to the land of Genbu and Byakko to recover the Shinzaho. Taiitsukun have increased the powers for the Suzaku Seven. Tamahome has asked Miaka to be his wife when their mission is over, but Miaka says that’s not going to happen. Miaka continues to somewhat ignore Tamahome, while Chichiri tells Miaka about how his best friend betrayed him. Miaka wonders what Chichiri told her, will happen to her and Yui.

Miaka, Nuriko, and Tasuki are having a good time at the festival, while Tamahome still thinks about what Miaka has said to him. When Miaka finally has a discussion with Tamahome, she explains herself, making Tamahome feel happy again. The trip has just about come, and Tamahome is off to bring some of his family with him. But when Tamahome, Miaka, and Nuriko get there, Tamahome finds that he's in for it...