In the Haru-Sari forums, authoress Keiiii listed subforum rules which included creating topics for specific pairings. Sarah Riddle took that thought and made "Chi-MinxJune Shippers UNITE!" The topic spawned a guild of supporters for the relationship between two central characters of HS: the elven Doctor Chi-Min Huang and the half-feline bouncer June Blue Delias.

I initially posted my thoughts on the pairing on the HS forums, but just for Sarah I decided to expand the article a little. Thus, I present to you several theories/explanations to answer the mysterious, all-encompassing question:

Why Chi-Min and June?

DEVELOPMENT OF STORY LEADS

To start off, Chi-Min and June are the leads of the story. Usually, the main characters undergo various trials and tribulations, rivalries, displays of companionship, and so on. In some cases, they undergo such things to develop to the point where they are worthy of each other, in order to create a better relationship than otherwise possible (as evidenced with the pairings in the Harry Potter series, for example).

Haru-Sari, of course, begins with the introduction of the feisty June and her assigned physician, Chi-Min. Throughout the story, the reader sees gradual development of the two characters through their interactions. We see their awkward first encounter, their sharing of innermost thoughts, their growing affection and concern for one another. If the plot continues with such development, then Chi and June could logically be coupled at the end. Even if they do not become romantically-involved, they will at the very least have shared an extremely significant relationship.

COMPARISON TO OTHER CANDIDATES

Aside from Chi-Min, the first possible love interest for June is Leon Yearnings. Although Leon is a looker and has saved June on more than one occasion, he also appears extremely secretive, cold, and distant. In one instance, he saves June from a pyromaniac elf, but when she asks him anything, his replies are short and to the point. He keeps his back to her constantly. Unless Leon feels especially vulnerable, then he is not going to open up to June, and any kind of romantic relationship is doomed to ever exist.

Also, Leon's livelihood is something June detests: elf-hunting. Although June understands Leon's position, she is sensitive to killing, and being with Leon would put her in great and unwanted emotional stress. Such stress is certainly not as welcoming as Chi-Min's smile. Thus, Leon would be a less suitable match for June.

Other than Leon, we have one more slightly-important character: the fat doctor. It would be a grave error to assume he and June would ever cross paths romantically. The doctor refers to her only in third person and completely ignores her when she is around. He is rude and callous and loud, and June would probably sooner kick than kiss him.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Following story cliches, opposites attract. Readers notice immediately how intellectual Doctor Chi-Min consistently maintains a professional air. In some instances, especially regarding death, he appears detached. This most likely occurs because of his medical training. That is, doctors must remain rational, even when they must examine cadavers or witness copious amounts of blood spurting every which way. Instead of becoming a mumbling mess at the first sight of gore, Chi-Min views such experiences as opportunities to learn. In another instance, when a red-haired elven girl blows up the bridge that June, Leon, and Chi-Min are on, Chi calmly creates a telepathic shield and instructs his companions to seek shelter while Chi deals with a very powerful enemy.

The bouncer, June, on the other hand, is easily prone to bouts of anger and depression, yelling and crying accordingly, when faced with stressful situations. The reader gets a taste of her personality when she first encounters Chi-Min. Chi explains to June that she needs a specialist's care for her Calphanika's. June responds, "so what? Specialist? Last time I went to see one, it didn't do me no good! They told me I was hopeless!" In frustration, she throws the medical curtain between the two aside.

Another example of June's emotional reactions is when the pyro-elf was killed by Leon. Instead of handling the situation calmly, June began sobbing and blamed herself for the elf's death.

PATIENT-DOCTOR

June and Chi-Min have a relationship that no other character in HS has: that of patient and doctor. This relationship is usually one based on trust and confidentiality. For example, Chi-Min knows things about June that she would not share with anyone else. At the very beginning of the story, June walks through the street with a jacket to hide her Calphanika's, but she bares her diseased arm at Chi's office. Three years later, she still visits Chi-Min's office, this time for a healing of her liver. In short, June trusts her life to Chi-Min's expertise. Trust is an essential part of any deep relationship.

FRIENDSHIP

Through the patient/doctor relationship, June and Chi-Min grow closer to one another as friends. Case in point: instead of keeping a strictly professional relationship with his patient, Chi-Min visits June at her apartment just to talk about their life plans over a glass of orange juice. Likewise, when June discovers she has accidentally taken a 16-million kels check meant for Chi-Min, she does not keep it or wait until her next scheduled appointment to return it. Rather, June calls the doctor right away and rushes over to the hospital (not Chi-Min's local office) to deliver the lost money. If nothing else, this speaks of her positive relationship with the doctor.

Later, when Chi-Min attempts to explain the ornery behavior of Kendrey colleague, the fat doctor, Chi and June have the following exchange:

Chi-Min: "Well, he has chronic rage-osis. High blood pressure, short-tempered, extremely allergic to provocation."

June whacks him over the head with a piece of paper.

Chi-Min: "Testing me for provocation allergies?"

June: "Yes, I am."

At this point, the reader can see June's expression clearly: she is in fact smiling. Despite hitting Chi-Min over the head for his tongue-in-cheek comments, she is still fond of him.

Obviously, as exemplified throughout book one, the two feel at least comfortable enough to actively seek each other out. More importantly, they enjoy each other's company and share a joke once in a while. In time, such a friendship may also develop into something more.

HARU-SARI PHILOSOPHY / RESPECT FOR LIFE

The two characters share a distinct "haru-sari" connection: they both suffer from short life expectancies. At of the end of the first book, Chi-Min is going to turn 29 soon. As he is an elf, Chi is expected to die in his mid 30s or earlier - whether from passing away naturally or being killed by the authorities after experiencing a psychotic relapse. Likewise, June has a terminal disease. Chi-Min has helped her somewhat, but her chances of survival are still slim to nil.

Thus, the two seem to have a mutual understanding for the quality of life. As we learn from flashbacks, Chi-Min did not start out caring for "lost causes" but developed his understanding through his father. While training elven powers, young Chi-Min explodes a cat. At this point in time, he thinks nothing of it, except that he chose the wrong subject on which to practice.

That same day, Chi-Min sees a haru-sari, an insect that is said to live for a day. Believing the insect unimportant because "a bug would never accomplish anything," he kills it. Chi-Min’s father takes the opportunity to sit the boy down and explain to him the value of each living moment. As the dad explains, "all lives are precious...not matter how short."

Years later, Chi-Min seems to understand his father's wisdom. After graduating from the prestigious Kendrey School of Medicine at the young age of 14, Doctor Chi-Min sets to work by treating the charity patients. When the fat doctor refers to a soccer player as simply a "Calphanika's," Chi-Min boldly states, "my patients have something called names. They are people." Normally, the perpetually poor and terminally ill would be labeled by society as lost causes. However, Chi-Min recognizes their importance and strives to improve their situation, as he has done with June. Moreover, Chi enjoys what little time he may have left with the half-feline. As stated previously, he looks forward to her company and seeks her out in her own apartment.

Later, the elf-hunter, Leon, comes knocking at June's apartment door in search of a rogue elf. Chi-Min offers his assistance, stating, "my skills could help you capture [the rogue elf] alive." Instead of simply letting Leon do his work, Chi-Min attempts to prevent the death of yet another lost cause. In some form or another, the good doctor cherishes life.

In parallel, June refuses to give up on the rest of her short existence. When Chi-Min informs June that she needs to go to a full treatment facility for her disease instead of a local office, she remarks, "if I am going to die, anyway, I'd rather die in my apartment than out on the streets!" In a monologue, she states, "I hate my job. But I refuse to quit. Quitting is like getting ready to die. Just because I'm a terminal patient doesn't mean I have to act like one." Regardless of her situation, June pushes forward, wishing to maintain her apartment space and live life as normally as she can.

In another instance, she cried over the death of the pyro-elf, despite the fact that said elf slung deadly fireballs at her earlier. And, later, when Leon showed up at her doorstep seeking another psychotic elf, June feared someone else was going to die, regardless of their condition or social status. She, too, maintains respect for life.

UNIQUE TRAITS / FAN IMAGINATION

I have also developed a few more interesting reasons, products of fan imagination. That is, basing one's support of ChixJune on what they could become rather than what they currently are.

First up, we have the size factor. June is a muscular girl who is also vertically-blessed. Chi is small. Seeing a big girl hugging her boy like a chibi is a cute mental picture. Eventually, Chi is expected to grow up into a rather handsome elf-man; however, he may or may not still reach June's height.

And let's not forget the interspecies thrill! Chi is an elf, the smallest race on the planet, population-wise. Specifically, he is a sane elf that has never fallen prey to psychotic relapses, which is quite unheard of. Even among his own species, Chi-Min is a rarity. In addition, elven romantic relations and any type of marriage is probably also barred. Lastly, elves do not physically develop exactly like humans and felines. Elves look like children well into middle age. In Chi-Min's case, he is almost 29, yet retains the body and resulting reproductive drive of a prepubescent child. This means Chi-Min may not understand if June has a sudden desire to create the next generation. Furthermore, even if he did understand, he will most likely be unable to do so, as elves are noted for their infertility. All of this lends to the uniqueness of Chi's current and possible relationship with June.

Finally, if Chi-Min IS able to reproduce, then fantastic offspring might result. As evidenced with June, a half-feline/half-human lacks the tail but retains the ears of a full felid. That is, obviously, the child will inherit the dominate traits from its parents. If June and Chi were have a kid, it might be a psychotic, blue-haired, tail-less felid with healing powers. Or a stoic, ass-kicking elf. The possibilities are endless!

Of course, June also seemed to have inherited her mother's Calphanika's. This could mean any child of Chi and June could also develop the terminal disease later on in life, continuing the cycle of the haru-sari...