Commentary on Seiya, Usagi, and Kakyuu by Kelli AtmosphericLight@aol.com I believe Seiya developed genuine feelings of love for Usagi but I also believe that it was in part because she reminded him of Princess Kakyuu. In the infamous words of both Taiki and Yaten: Seiya was confusing the image of his princess with Usagi. I believe that wholeheartedly, because prior to coming to Earth I think Sailor Starfighter was in love with Princess Kakyuu and I also believe Kakyuu may have loved her back. I used to think that Princess Kakyuu and Fighter had a relationship prior to the destruction of Kinmoku but I'm not so certain anymore because of a few things Kotetsu pointed out. The feelings were probably there but neither Kakyuu or Fighter ever got the chance to act on them. And then of course everything fell apart: Galaxia attacked, Kakyuu fled Kinmoku, the Starlights followed her, and so the Stars season began. I'll do my best to explain why I think there is something between Kakyuu and Seiya ^^;; but please keep an open mind, okay? The following are just my opinions, formed from watching hour after hour of the Stars Season and interpreting various different scenes. In the anime, if you pay very close attention there are scenes that hint at Seiya's love for Kakyuu. For example, there are instances that when questioned by Taiki, Yaten, or both Seiya admits that Sailor Moon and sometimes even Usagi herself remind him of Princess Kakyuu. In the episode where Seiya and Usagi have their date and they're on the ferris wheel Seiya and Usagi discuss Mamoru. Seiya tells Usagi he thinks Mamoru is leading her on which upsets Usagi. Seiya stares at her for a long moment and Usagi's image is shadowed/obscured briefly. Seiya looks at Usagi's eyes specifically and thinks "Princess..." a moment later though he snaps out of his dazed like state and apologizes for what he said about Mamoru. There was another instance in episode #184 Seiya and Usagi have the following conversation: Usagi: No Way! Be considerate! Otherwise, girls won't like you! *Seiya's expression becomes more serious.* Seiya: That's fine. It doesn't matter if anyone else likes me. In fact, I'm singing for only one lady. Usagi: Only for one lady? *Behind Seiya the background fades to a starry backdrop. Amidst the stars we see a beautiful shadowed image of Princess Kakyuu with her hair down. Seiya's voice becomes wistfully, melancholy as he continues to speak.* Seiya: That's right. We're always singing with all our might to get the attention from that single lady in the galaxy. *The background image of Kakyuu fades and the screen focusses on Seiya's eyes, which have become tearful at this point.* There are many instances in the anime, especially in the first few episodes where this will occur and sometimes like above Seiya will become sad other times he'll get this look of absolute adoration on his face when he thinks of her (example: Episode #176 look at his face as he talks to Akane (Sister Angela) in the church(?). A similar obscured image of Kakyuu pops up in the background and Seiya briefly gets the cutest love struck look on his face :D ) I won't list any more of those because this is already kind of long but there are conversations with other people that Seiya has where a person feels or senses something in his songs. Example, episode # 180 Usagi and Seiya speak to the concert conductor Mr. Garayan. This conversation hints at Seiya's possible love for Kakyuu. Garayan: I felt a mysterious wave in your songs. *Seiya gasps* Garayan: In strong passion, I can feel gentle love. But it is somewhat sad, right? It's like a message to your love. *Garayan puts a hand on his head in pain; because he and Usagi had taken a rather unceremonious tumble down the stairs just minutes before. ^^;;* Garayan: I'm talking such nonsense... Usagi: Are you all right? Seiya: I will go with you to your room. Garayan: That's okay I'll go back to my room after I go outside and get some fresh night air. See you. *With that Garayan starts walking away but after a moment he turns back and says.* Garayan: Seiya, if your songs are really a message to your love .. I hope they reach her as soon as possible. This 'love' of Seiya's Garayan refers to is Kakyuu, as we know. Take any and all of the things I've listed anyway you like. Personally, I've always believed there was something between Kakyuu and Starfighter be it in the anime or the manga. Other scenes for example are when Kakyuu herself appears. All three of the Starlights get on their knees, they all smile and cry. But, notice how Kakyuu singles Fighter out as she approaches them. She kneels down to be at level with Fighter, takes her hand, and speaks directly to her. Yes, I know that doesn't mean Kakyuu has feelings for Fighter. Many people have told me it's because Fighter is the 'supposed' leader of the Starlights and that's the reason Kakyuu spoke directly to her. Either way, I for one love this scene because of the expressions on both Fighter and Kakyuu's faces. It's the look of love ^^;; I've seen it before in other anime as well as in real life. I used to think maybe I had imagined those looks Kakyuu and Fighter gave each other but others have claimed to notice as well so I must not be completely out of my mind! ^^; Soon, Kakyuu stands and goes on to explain to the other senshi all about the Sailor Wars. Healer cuts in though and begs Kakyuu to just go back to Kinmoku with them, to rebuild, it's as if that's when it hits Fighter that they'll be leaving Earth. And we see instances of Fighter looking from Usagi to Kakyuu with this - look on her face. The outer senshi arrive and things begin to get out of hand so Kakyuu turns to leave, but not before telling Usagi that she believes in her. What I find really interesting about this scene is that when Kakyuu begins walking away Fighter takes a glance at the others and immediately follows her. The other senshi, including Healer and Maker stay behind and watch the duo walk off together. Hmmm... It's interesting because Maker and Healer are so devoted to Kakyuu, you'd think they would have been attached to her at the hip now that she's finally been reunited with them. I found it a bit strange that Fighter and Kakyuu went off by themselves. Kakyuu didn't even need to ask, she just started walking and Fighter just went right after her. At this point I think it's safe to say Fighter/Seiya has feelings for both Kakyuu and Usagi. Could it be that Seiya was so confused when Kakyuu was back, that he was unsure of his feelings for both women? It's hard to tell because after Kakyuu is killed (;_;) Usagi is the only woman left so Fighter puts all she has into protecting her. Kakyuu gets killed so abruptly she's barely with Fighter again before she gets taken away. It makes me wonder though, if Kakyuu had still been around during the battle would things have been different? Throughout the series when Kakyuu is *not* present it almost seems like Usagi takes over Kakyuu's role in Seiya's eyes. We always see Yaten and Taiki together so I think on Kinmoku it's likely that Fighter and Kakyuu were usually together and Maker and Healer spent their time together. We see an example of this when Kakyuu and Fighter walk away from the others together in episode #194 as I mentioned above. Seiya seems to spend much of his time with Usagi, while on Earth. I wonder if it's compensation for not having Kakyuu around? I know Seiya had genuine feelings for Usagi but sometimes I still feel as though Usagi is Kakyuu's substitute as far as Seiya is concerned. I also noticed that when Kakyuu does return things seem blurred in Seiya's mind like he can't decide between the two as far as his feelings are concerned as to what's legitimate or not. He seems to be in real mental turmoil. Another scene in episode #194 is the most well known to Kakyuu and Seiya fans. Everyone seems to know about this scene and when asked why they think Seiya and Kakyuu had feelings for each other most people will make reference to it. Seiya and Kakyuu are back at what I assume is the Three Lights apartment. Kakyuu is sitting on the couch while Seiya tries to phone Usagi, the line is busy - he hangs up. Kakyuu calls him, and he goes over to her. Kakyuu asks him about their male guises and Seiya blushes (very cute scene! ^^;;) and nervously explains. Kakyuu then apologizes for not answering them, and she explains her reasons. Seiya immediately kneels down in front of her and notice the body language - how he places his hands over hers and passionately reassures her that it's all right because she came back to them safely. Kakyuu places her hands over Seiya's and with the smallest hint of a smile on her lips she asks him to sing her his song. Seiya smiles - the goofy "in love smile" (it's too cute! ^^;;) and sings for her. At this point the scene fades and we see Kinmokusei, then we see Kakyuu and the Starlights surrounded by a flurry of olive blossoms. Healer and Maker are towards the back and Fighter and Kakyuu are towards the front holding hands and smiling at each other. They look so in love in this scene - but that's just my opinion. Then of course as he's singing Kakyuu gets replaced by Usagi and then the 'daydream' ends. Seiya seems shocked and the mental turmoil he's in becomes exceedingly obvious. I think at that point he realizes how deep his feelings for Usagi are .. maybe the scene suggests that he sees Kakyuu and Usagi in the same light? The next thing we know Seiya is on the couch with Kakyuu - she's fallen asleep against him and he looks troubled. By that daydream, no doubt. When Taiki and Yaten arrive he tells them to look after Kakyuu and he rushes out to call Usagi. He gets to a pay phone and calls her up but the line is still busy, and he ends up breaking down and crying in the phone booth. At this point in time it seems as though he's torn between Kakyuu and Usagi and just very confused about his feelings. I think that when Kakyuu was replaced by Usagi in his 'daydream' Seiya was scared. Maybe up until that point not even he had realized how much he truly cared for Usagi. He may have felt guilt like he was betraying his own heart, his feelings for Kakyuu, and Kakyuu herself. I think he desperately wanted to talk to Usagi then because he wanted to make sense of things. I don't know maybe I just read into things too much ^^;; After that there are a few more scenes I'd like to mention but I won't go into them too much. Kakyuu's death scene for instance was heart wrenching they could have done better but it was sad nonetheless. I cried. Fighter's screams after Kakyuu faded away gave me chills. Throughout the climatic battle with Galaxia you'll notice how Fighter puts everything she has into protecting Sailor moon. I know I've asked this question before but I'll ask it again do you think Fighter would have been as focused on protecting Sailor Moon if her own Princess had been present during the battle? I highly doubt it. I think she would have been completely torn. She would have been desperate to protect them both but I kind of lean towards her protecting Kakyuu most since Usagi already has so many people looking out for her. Usagi eventually defeats Chaos/Galaxia of course, and all of the senshi including our beloved Princess Kakyuu come back to life. The Starlights are overjoyed too see their Princess, of course. Next thing we know everyone is on the roof of Juuban High School and the Starlights, their Princess, the inner senshi, Mamoru, and Luna and Artemis are saying their good-byes. As I watched this scene various questions came to mind. If Usagi had picked up on what Seiya meant in episode #200 and she had returned Seiya's feelings would he have stayed on Earth to be with her? I would love to just say 'no' because in my opinion everything would be better off if Fighter just stayed with Kakyuu and Usagi just stayed with Mamoru. And to be really honest I just want Seiya and Kakyuu together. ^^; But I have to wonder 'why' Seiya tried to tell Usagi of his feelings that one last time. In front of Kakyuu no less! I've always thought Seiya was a masochist so I wonder if he just knew in his heart that Usagi would misinterpret what he was saying again or perhaps he thought that she would say no and that she didn't love him back. Maybe he just needed to be sure she didn't love him so he could move on without having to wonder about the "what ifs''. Or perhaps it was simply that he held onto the hope that Usagi returned his feelings? I really don't know. Frankly, I think Kakyuu and Fighter would make a strikingly beautiful couple. In the anime, hints of any feelings between Kakyuu and Fighter are obscure but they are there. In the manga though, Seiya says to Taiki and Yaten from her OWN lips, mind you, that the reason she cares for Usagi is because Usagi reminds her of Princess Kakyuu. Don't get me wrong, in the manga I think Seiya eventually develops genuine feelings of love for Usagi but initially it was because Usagi reminded Seiya of Kakyuu. She said it herself folks! ^^;; Unfortunately, in the manga Kakyuu had that pesky male lover who died so it's assumed Seiya's love was again unrequited. Kakyuu probably didn't love Seiya back in the manga and it was obvious Usagi did not either. Seiya's love was spurned twice. Damn, poor Seiya ;_;. She never catches a break. She has such a sad life, I'm sure she was probably riddled with guilt due to the annihilation of her entire planet, the people she was forced to kill, not being able to protect her princess, falling in love with people who don't love her back. If you'll notice .. in some drawings in the manga Seiya has such a sadness in her eyes. The whole situation is so sad. Luckily, for Fighter and Kakyuu fans everywhere though, Kakyuu's lover isn't mentioned in the anime. So if the feelings were indeed there then when Fighter, Kakyuu, and the other Starlights left for Kinmoku in episode #200 of the anime it's possible Fighter and Princess Kakyuu finally do strike up a romance. After all, Fighter deserves some happiness and besides a girl can dream, can't she? ^^;;