The Three Brides While riding the collection truck, Touko meets three other passengers: Hotaru, Benio, and Kaho who are traveling to other villages to be brides. They explain that they have effectively been banished from their respective villages in an attempt to get rid of perceived curses. Touko also learns that there is another Fire Hunter in the second collection truck. Meanwhile, in the Capital, Koushi travels to the Okibi estate and meets Youschichi Okibi, a wealthy factory owner and an old friend of Koushi's father Haijuu. With Koushi's mother dead and Haijuu having left the Capital on Fire Hunter business, Yuoshichi offers to house Koushi and his ill sister at his estate. In return, Koushi needs to research a way to enhance bottled lightning to harness the power of the extremely volatile skyfire, since Yuoshichi foresees the collapse of the current government and a powerful energy source will be needed to survive the resulting chaos. At the collection truck, the caravan makes a brief stop to refuel and allow the Fire Hunter to hunt. Kaho attempts to escape the truck and Touko tries to stop her, only for Kaho to be captured by a Fire Fiend. The Fire Hunter and Kanata intervene, killing the Fire Fiend and saving both girls. However, the chief of the truck warns Touko that she violated rules by exiting the truck without permission, so she will be forced off at the next village.