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Fire - Kasumi Karen
Seiichirou and Karen have formed a close bond since re-meeting as members of the Ten no Ryuu. It isn't too hard to see why. Besides having met before, Seiichirou and Karen are the only adults in the group, barring Sumeragi Subaru (who is too obsessed with his hunt for the Sakurazukamori to be sociable). Being more mature than the others, not to mention far removed the teen age-range, it makes sense that they gravitate towards one another. They fight together as a team more than they do with the others; where there is a Seiichirou, there will also be a Karen. This partnership has turned into a relationship between close friends who trust and care about one another. Unfortunately for Karen, her feelings have developed into something stronger than friendship, something he cannot return.
Seiichirou himself appears unaware of Karen's romantic interest in him. If he does know, he does the right thing by never bringing it, keeping the knowledge to himself. There would be no point in doing so. If Karen has already come to accept that he will never love her like so in return, bringing up the subject could only break her heart. And Seiichirou isn't the sort that would wish that for anybody, especially not a beloved friend. Nevertheless, she is still important to him. Important enough to stab the blunt edge of a fruit knife into his leg to stay awake long enough to save her life. Karen has value, not just because she is a person, but also because she is a friend. It is for this reason that Seiichirou promises to cry for her.
Visit Redhead Dancing Girl for a fine tribute to Karen. |
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Of all the participants in the end of the world, none is quite so colorful
as Kasumi Karen. Her background is drawn from a number of seemingly un-bridgeable worlds:
she's a devote Christian (Catholic, judging by the rosary and Sign of the Cross), a gentle
mother figure (particularly to Kamui and Nataku), and...a prostitute. Karen earns her bread
money as a 
Karen has fallen in love Seiichirou. He is everything her abusive
childhood
lacked: caring, kindness, friendship, and acceptance. Her love isn't the sort of starry-eyed,
flamboyant passion most girls show when they fall in love at first sight. On the contrary,
Karen's feelings have developed as "X" has progressed, and she keeps them to herself. She is aware
that Seiichirou cannot return her feelings because they are reserved for Shimako. Respect and mature
love have helped her accept this. For Karen, knowing that Seiichirou cares for her and that in the
end will be the one to grant her wish - to cry for her when she dies - seems to be enough.
Ever since her mother refused to do this for her, a piece of Karen has been missing. Seiichirou
has replaced this missing part of her.
Would Seiichirou die for Karen? At first I would have said yea, but on second
thought I'm not too sure. Though Karen is without a doubt an important person
in his life, Seiichirou's wish is still to protect his wife and daughter. He couldn't do that by dying. There's no doubt in my mind that Seiichirou would fight tooth and claw for
Karen's life - and he does, against Yuuto - but he has a responsiblity to his family as well. The choice, however, wouldn't be one Karen would begrudge or even ask of him.
She's well aware of the fact that Seiichirou has priorities elsewhere. All she desires from him is his friendship and his understanding. In those, Karen has finally found
the happiness she was denied as a child.