Seiya vs. Haruka

It was hate at first sight. Disregarding the fact that, as Michiru says, "Haruka doesn't like popular boys," Seiya has the gall to flirt with Michiru, which loses him even more points in Haruka's book. Finding out that Seiya is really Sailor Starfighter doesn't help the situation any. In fact, it makes it worse. It's the Outer Senshi's job to protect Earth from alien invaders, which is exactly what the Starlights are. (Well, sort of.)

Why do they hate each other so much?

While Uranus's mission as a Sailor Senshi plays a definite role, there are other factors to consider as well. The fact is, Seiya and Haruka are so much alike, that they naturally become rivals. The similarities between the two inlcude:

1. Tomboyish personality. Haruka is a girl who dresses as, and sometimes poses as, a man. Seiya is really a girl, who is "disguised" as a man. Thus what follows naturally is that other areas of rivalry develop as well - for example, a mutual love of sports, and an overall tough, masculine, competitive demeanor.

2. Competition. Whether it's sports, or girls, or even a game of Go Fish, both Seiya and Haruka always see the world in competitive terms, and both of them are always striving to be Number One.

3. Flirtatiousness. BOTH Haruka and Seiya are guilty of flirting with Usagi at some point, although Seiya's flirtations are actually a prelude to a deeper, more profound attraction. And yes, they both know that Michiru is hot . . . Although when Seiya starts flirting with Michiru, Haruka does *not* take it very lightly.

4. Cool. Let's face it - Seiya is cool. The casual demeanor, the sardonic wit, the sunglasses, the hair, the outfits . . . Haruka, too, is forever and always cool, whether she tries to be or not. That's why she has both girls and boys at her school swooning all over her.

However, despite the similarities, there are distinct differences that again only feed the rivalry between the two. It mostly boils down to one thing: Happy versus Serious. No matter how hard Seiya tries to focus on his mission, he keeps getting distracted by a certain odango-atama. Not to mention the fact that Seiya is generally cheerful, energetic, friendly, and outgoing. Unlike Seiya, Haruka is usually distant and cold toward strangers, and is always focused on her mission as a Senshi, even willing to sacrifice her life and Michiru's life for it. (Remember the Marine Cathedral in Sailor Moon S?) Not to say that Seiya wouldn't do the same, also sacrificing his life, if put into a similar situation . . . The problem is that Seiya seems pretty intent on pretending that such a situation doesn't exist, or that it will never happen to him. Although when it DOES, in the final episodes, Starfighter finally pulls through.

Maybe this is why Haruka initially hates Seiya so much. The natural rivalry between the two is just the first step. After she discovers Seiya's true identity, Haruka's animosity toward him only grows stronger. She sees within him the strength and the determination to be a great Sailor Senshi. But she's angry that he would seemingly forsake his true mission in order to pursue Usagi, who, gosh darnit, is already taken! (Remember, Haruka is intensely loyal to Usagi AND Mamoru. Maybe even moreso to Mamoru, whom she seemed to respect more in the S season.) Plus there's the arrogance factor on both sides . . .

Thus, the two are in a catch-22 dilema. Their similar personalities and natural competitiveness make them automatic rivals . . . But if it weren't for that, the fact that Seiya is light-hearted and genki, while Haruka is more stoic and serious, would make them naturally resent each other anyway.

Seiya and Haruka may have been enemies during most of the season, but their relationship reaches a complete meltdown in episode 198. Neptune and Uranus decide to side with Galaxia, and although they secretly plan a last-ditch attempt to defeat the Golden Senshi, they can't exactly share that information with Sailor Moon or the Starlights. So Uranus and Neptune go after Sailor Moon's starseed. When Fighter tries to stop them, Uranus taunts her, saying that she couldn't even protect her OWN princess, let alone Sailor Moon. (At this point, Galaxia has already defeated Kakyuu.) Predictably, when Fighter hears this, she goes absolutely ballistic.

Fighter snaps and charges at Uranus, who manages to dodge most of Fighter's blows . . . That is, until Fighter lands one fist squarely in her stomach. Ouch. Understandably angry, Uranus returns the favor with a stomach-punch of her own. Only this time, the force of her punch sends Fighter literally flying across the room. Fighter crashes into the ground at Sailor Moon's feet.

Before the brawl can resume again, Uranus and Neptune attack the Starlights and Sailor Moon with their Senshi powers. The Starlights gather around Sailor Moon and manage to protect her, even though they take considerable damage from the blast.

The battle continues. Finally, Galaxia gives Uranus and Neptune the order to take Sailor Moon's starseed. When they instead revolt and attack Galaxia, she punishes them by destroying the bracelets that have been keeping them alive. As Uranus and Neptune fade away and die, Uranus turns toward Fighter and tells her to protect Sailor Moon. In the end, Uranus finally trusts the most unlikely Senshi of all.

Why the change of heart? My theory is that Fighter finally proved herself to Uranus during the final battle. She kept fighting, and pretty fiercely at that, despite the overwhelming odds against her, despite her own injuries, and despite the feelings of loss and hopelessness that she was no doubt suffering. She proved that she would protect Sailor Moon no matter what, and that she would never give up and never give in to Galaxia. Or maybe, in her last extremity, Uranus realized that with her and Michiru gone, there were only Fighter and the other Starlights left to protect Sailor Moon. Well, I prefer the former theory, anyway.

  Guest Commentary: Seiya vs. Haruka

Irina writes:

I basically have a different opinion on 'Haruka/Seiya' relationship on several points.

I guess I must say that I'm totally devoted to the four soldiers of the outer solar system but it doesn't mean that I don't realize their faults in general and Haruka's faults in particular.

I totally agree on their similarities with Seiya and their disliking each other though I wouldn't call it hatred, on both sides. But I was always thinking that Haruka was jealous not only of Michiru but also of Usagi. And probably as jealous. Not because Seiya was breaking Usagi and Mamoru up, in her opinion. I think she had always been sure in her Princess but because she loves Usagi (with total absence of any carnal infatuation or with just a tiny bit of it), and Seiya, who was first flirting with Michiru and then asking Usagi out, was just getting on her nerves as he was "playing games", in her opinion (and it looked that way), with two people she loved. And she doesn't have that many people she loves.

As for the final battle with Galaxia and Uranus and Neptune's encounter with the other sailor soldiers, it's a very complicated scene and since it plays a rather important role in the exposition of the characters of Haruka and Michiru, I understandably spent a lot of time analysing it.

And I think that both Uranus and Neptune were saying what they were saying in order to make the Starlights fight against Galaxia. They were angering them on purpose.

And, according to our translation, when Uranus said: "You couldn't even protect your own Princess." she was addressing the Starlights and not the Fighter only. I know that in the english language the word 'you' is both singular and plural but in the russian language there are two different words for 'you' singular and 'you' plural and Uranus used 'you' plural when she was saying the above mentioned phrase.

Why Fighter particularly got so mad over it, I don't know. Maybe because she felt guilty for falling for Usagi and thus felt she had betrayed her Princess and now her Princess was dead. So she was as angry with Uranus and as hated her at that point as she was at that point angry with and hated herself.

And finally about why Uranus asked Fighter to protect Sailor Moon when she'd practically faded away. I think she'd done that for only reason because she knew that Fighter/Seiya loves Sailor Moon/Usagi. Haruka has many faults but she's not stupid and I think she perceived Seiya's true feelings. So it's quite natural to ask someone, who you know loves you Princess, to protect your Princess when you're almost dead.

Saun also argues that the relationship between Seiya and Haruka, and least on Haruka's part, wasn't as full of malice as it looked:

I would have to say with Michiru, Haruka's reaction was a gut reaction. She saw him with her lover and lost it. She even almost apologized to Michiru for it. With Galaxia she was testing Fighter to see if she was capable of protecting their Princess. When Fighter landed that punch Uranus looked pleased and said "You can do it all right." In essence protecting Sailor Moon was a bit of redemption for the Starlights. Also when Uranus was dying she and Fighter reached an understanding. The Starlights had proved themselves to the Outers and had earned their respect. Every action was deliberate.

If anybody else has thoughts or opinions they'd like to share, please don't be shy!

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