Seiya and Usagi Romance Info.

When Seiya first spies Tsukino Usagi at Tokyo International Airport, he is immediately intrigued by her. Although he initially doesn't understand the powerful attraction he has to her, he begins to flirt with her and address her as Odango ("Dumpling").

Seiya and Usagi grow closer and closer together as the season progresses. Seiya believes that he is now Usagi's boyfriend, but Usagi is oblivious to his true feelings and considers him just a friend. But that all changes after episode 188, when a trap set by Sailor Aluminum Siren forces the Inner Senshi and the Sailor Starlights to reveal their true identities to each other. Ashamed that he hid the truth from Usagi, Seiya avoids her and descends into a bit of a funk.

After some serious soul-searching, Seiya decides to apologize to Usagi and renew their relationship. The other two Lights warn him against getting involved with Usagi, claiming that she will probably end up interfering with the Starlights' mission. Seiya ignores them, and attempts to approach Sailor Moon.

After that, things aren't too terribly rosy between the Three Lights and the Sailor Senshi. Taiki and Yaten are determined to keep Seiya and Usagi apart, believing that Sailor Moon will only bring bad luck upon Seiya. But Seiya and Usagi continue to see each other, even though the brief meetings between the two are increasingly shadowed by the impending doom of all that they hold dear.

Shortly before the Three Lights' final concert, Seiya and Usagi meet backstage to put an end to their "relationship." Seiya teases Usagi, telling her that he plans to spirit her away right after the concert. "Don't feel bad that I'm in a one-sided love," he finally says. Then he leans over and kisses her on the cheek, as tears spill out of her wide eyes.

After Chaos is defeated and the Earth is returned to normal, Kakyuu and the Three Lights gather to say goodbye to Usagi and her friends. "I'll never forget you. We'll be friends forever!" Usagi chirps at Seiya, causing the other two Lights to laugh uncontrollably. (She still doesn't get it?) Seiya turns to Mamoru and says, "Mamoru-san, you have to protect her, even though a snobbish guy is telling you to do so." Then the Senshi from Kinmoku leave, departing the Earth as four shooting stars streaking across the sky.

"Thank you, Seiya," Usagi thinks as she turns her face toward the night sky. Thus ends the sad story of Seiya and Usagi.

Topic Two: In Defense / Motivations

I've come across a lot of websites lately where the owners say, in so many words, "I hate Seiya because he tried to break up Usagi and Mamoru."

Whoa, hold on a second!

Obviously, none of these factors account for why Seiya really pursued Usagi.

Seiya fell in love with Usagi. Period, end of sentence. He did not "try to break up" Usagi's relationship with Mamoru, or steal her from Mamoru in any way. As far as Seiya was concerned, there WAS no relationship with Mamoru. Look at it from Seiya's point of view: Mamoru leaves his girlfriend behind as he runs off to America. Despite her faithful devotion to him, and her daily letter-writing, he cuts off all communication with her. He doesn't even call or return her letters. To an outside observer with no previous knowledge of Mamoru's character, like Seiya, it looks as though Mamoru has DUMPED Usagi, and in the cruelest possible manner.

Of course, all is forgiven when Seiya finally finds out that Mamoru was dead all along. Oh, so *that's* why he didn't call or write to Usagi . . .

So, Seiya's pursual of Usagi is motivated by love, not by jealousy or spite. And, from Seiya's point of view, Mamoru was a jerk who had dumped Usagi, and so he was doing nothing wrong by gently leading Usagi away from what appeared to be a dead-end relationship. In short, Seiya did not "try to break up" Usagi and Mamoru. He simply fell in love, and tried to initiate a relationship with Usagi. Remember, there is a difference.