Must remember to take deep, clensing breaths...

Okay... I think I'm ready.

When you come down to it, quite a few things could keep Hanagata and Otaru out of each other's arms, the least of them being three voluptuous marionettes or a certain voluptuous marionette creator (but more on them later in this shrine). First off, a relationship between the two might not work out due to issues of sexual orientation. While Hanagata is portrayed throughout the series and manga as nothing other than flamboyantly (and proudly!) gay, Otaru just seems well... for lack of a better description, as straight as a two-by-four (and even more so in the manga!). Not only does he blush in the presence of almost anything remotely female-looking (including Gennai's otome kairo-less marionette Gemini), but he seems to exibit no desire whatsoever for any member of the "stronger sex", Hanagata included. Through Saber Marionette J and J Again, Otaru shows more platonic than romantic interest in his next-door neighbor, if even that. Every time Hanagata grabs him, touches him or otherwise makes a pass, for example, Otaru usually responds with disgust, apathy or, if angered enough, outright violence. And yet he seems not to mind and maybe even to enjoy Hanagata's presence as long as Hanagata keeps his proclamations of eternal devotion and hands (and chest ^_~) to himself. If this is the case, then a romantic relationship between the two would be difficult, and even impossible, simply because, well, Otaru seems not to want one.

Further, one could argue that Hanagata is far too annoying, loud, emotionally volatile and immature to have a relationship with anyone, lest of all a man whose romantic interest in him is dubious, to say the least. After all, Hanagata's frequent temper tantrums, emotional outbursts and downright co-dependent behavior, not to mention his selfishness and rather childish outlook on life must certainly be difficult to put up with on a day to day basis when Hanagata is a good apartment-length away. And combined with the normal vicissitudes of a romantic relationship, such qualities might send Otaru (or any lover) packing in a hurry. Additionally, one could argue that Hanagata may endulge in employ such immature tactics simply because he believes this behavior is the only way he can wrest Otaru's attention away from his marionettes (read: "negative attention is better than no attention"). If this is indeed the case, then Hanagata's actions may indicate that he has some mental and emotional issues which would further hamper and complicate a relationship with his beloved.

And while on the subject of emotional issues...what really does lie at the heart of Hanagata's feelings for Otaru?

In Saber Marionette J, episode eight, Hanagata first consciously recognizes his feelings for Otaru as romantic love upon getting three fortunes in the same day which tell him to "love thy neighbor". While some would say that Hanagata fell in 'love' with Otaru simply because, as Homer Simpson might put it, "the fortune cookie told me to", I do not think this is the case (just look at his concern for Otaru immediately after their fight in Episode One if you don't believe me). However, as much as I find this view to be, frankly, horse shit in light of the events in the second half of Saber Marionette J to X, one can argue that Hanagata may not be in love with Otaru as much as he's experiencing a case of 'puppy love', hero-worship or an attack of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Certainly, his actions could be construed as such. After all, Hanagata does obsessively turn his room into some kind of shrine to Otaru, much as a love-sick preteen would (no offense to preteens, but it's a common thing to do at that age). Further, his obsessive hoarding of Otaru merchandise (including jammies) does boarder on the unusual and unhealthy, and as such, may lead one to arguing that Hanagata is endulging in behavior more germaine to that of a stalker than an adoring suitor. And however benign his actions may be, no one can deny that Hanagata *does* stalk Otaru, albiet clumbsily, by not only poping into his house at unexpected, inconvenient and often embarassing odd moments, but by actually hiding there and doing such things as jumping into bed with Otaru when he's fast asleep and certainly unwilling! Given this evidence, one may infer that Hanagata is more of an obsessive and possibly even slightly mentally ill stalker who is pursuing Otaru out of some strong inner compulsion or unmet need than out of love.

After all, Hanagata must have several unmet emotional and psychological needs, given his family situation. In episode three of Saber Marionette J to X, we learn that Hanagata's father, Kamatarou, is a physically and emotionally overbearing and domineering man who seems to relish not only humiliating and bossing his elder son around but physically abusing him as well. While certainly such a 'pop-Freudian' argument as this smacks of cliche , I think in Hanagata Mitsurugi's case it may be entirely relevant. Often, children, regardless of gender, who have such negative relationships with their parents find themselves involved in unfulfilling or one-sided romantic relationships later on in life with individuals who resemble their parents in some form or another in order to somehow reconcile with their parents. Given that Otaru, like Kamatarou, beats and ignores Hanagata frequently, one could also argue that Hanagata is not in love with Otaru as much as he is attempting to put his relationship with his father right -- albiet in an entirely inappropriate and unsucessful way. And because romantic relationships which involve this kind of need on at least one partner's side are often unfulfilling and painful, one may conclude that Hanagata would be better off dismissing the possibility of a relationship with his friend, for Otaru's mental and emotional health as well as his own.

Well, I think I'm done commenting on why this relationship wouldn't work. If you have any other ideas about it coupled with a strange desire to write them all up in essay form, I'd be happy to read it and post it.