relationships

Salvia's progression as a characters owes greatly to the relationships she establishes with other members of the Wedding Peach cast. The fourth love angel too, has a lasting impact on those around her. This section examines each of these relationships and their impact on Salvia.

Hanasaki Momoko (Wedding Peach)

Momoko is key to Salvia's eventual transformation from loner to team player. When the pair first meet, Wedding Peach is utterly thrilled to see a fourth love angel (so much so that in the anime she proposes a toast) but is soon saddened by Salvia's disinterest in working together. While Salvia's sour disposition manages to get both Yuri and Hinagiku off side almost immediately, Momoko never gives up on Salvia's potential. Momoko believes that Salvia has a pure heart (despite appearances) and defends her when the other angels express disgust in her attitude. Because Momoko is so kind and insistent, eventually Salvia opens up, explaining how Freesia's death scarred her.

It is Wedding Peach who tells Salvia she can't live life alone- a comment which inspires the fourth love angel to work alongside the others in defense of the Tenshi-kai. Because of her growing admiration for Momoko, Salvia decides to kill Fuuma Yousuke after discovering his devilish origins- a rather misguided attempt at protecting her companion from heartbreak. As Salvia has never been in love, she can't understand why someone simply can't "stop" loving another- which is why she becomes so frustrated with Momoko when she refuses to give up on Yousuke, despite the perils involved. But as the war with the devils intensifies, it is Momoko's pure-hearted dedication to love that eventually earns her an even greater deal of respect in Salvia's eyes. Just as Salvia refuses to give up on what she believes in, Momoko displays this same tenacity in the love she holds for Yousuke. Though she looks cute and clueless, Momoko is a powerful character whose desire to save the man she loves overcomes age-old racial boundaries and establishes a new, peaceful future. Salvia is willing to defend and protect a girl so devoted and passionate to her cause.

In Wedding Peach DX, Momoko and Salvia continue their close friendship- with the former guiding the latter in various human routines. When Scarlet falls in love with Clark Oasis, it is Momoko who encourages her to truly let loose and fall in love. Particularly in the anime, Momoko and Scarlet evolve to have an almost sisterly relationship, with Scarlet undoubtedly playing the role of the sage older sister.

In the wedding ceremony between Yousuke and Momoko (episode fifty-one), Scarlet volunteers to perform the role of bridesmaid- showing just how much she comes to treasure her relationship with Momoko.

Tanima Yuri (Angel Lily)

Yuri comes to dislike Salvia quite soon after her introduction. It isn't Salvia cutting down her attacks in battle or even her attitude that upsets Yuri. It is when Scarlet badmouths Limone that Yuri finds her behaviour unforgivable. The refined Yuri actually steps forward and slaps Scarlet after she talks badly about Limone, an action which does nothing more than confuse Scarlet. Yuri's pure love for Limone goes over Scarlet's head- she can't comprehend why one person would defend another so whole-heartedly. It is obvious at this point that Scarlet has never been in love, contrasting with Yuri whose commitment to the man she loves has survived death and rebirth.

In the manga, Yuri and Scarlet manage to establish a rather strong bond over their mutual respect for Limone. Scarlet does not love the guardian angel, but she trusts and admires him. After he is injured protecting the girls, Scarlet remains with Yuri by his bedside. Scarlet even smiles when Yuri remembers the love she had for Limone in her previous life.

Although Salvia manages to bring out a rage we rarely see in Yuri, the pair do eventually become friends. It is when Salvia begins to let go of past biases that she becomes a true love angel once more, beginning friendships anew with the angels she once held in little regard.

Tamano Hinagiku (Angel Daisy)

Like Yuri, Hinagiku dislikes Salvia from the moment she is introduced- citing her haughty attitude as reason enough not to fight beside her. As both girls have little tact when they speak, the clashes begin rather early on. There are several moments in the series when Hinagiku must be physically restrained after biting quips of Salvia's enrage her. Like Jama-Pii, Hinagiku sees Salvia as a selfish person with little regard for others. On the flip side, Salvia views Daisy as "weak" and "naive" like her companions because she refuses to kill. Hinagiku and Salvia are probably more similar in their manner than they'd like to think, with each being quick to anger, defiant and quite vocal.

Although at times Hinagiku mutters "You can't reason with her (Scarlet)", by episode fifty-one the pair have become rather solid allies. When Salvia begins to change her attitude, she and Hinagiku communicate better- ending the childish bickering in favour of friendship.

Limone (Yanagiba Kazuya)

The angel sent by Aphrodite to search for the Saint Something Four has an interesting relationship with Salvia. In the anime she has absolutely no respect for him, branding his attitude poor and his methods weak after meeting the other love angels. Salvia feels he shows too much mercy towards devils by allowing the love angels to purify them. Limone does not have nearly as much of a problem with Salvia- he simply asks the love angels to help her grow and change as a person. In the anime it is the disrespect Scarlet shows Limone that most enrages Lily about her character.

This contrasts a great deal with Salvia's regard for Limone in the manga. After wearing the Saint Something New (and gaining memories of her past life) Scarlet was visited by a vision of Limone that asked her to unite with the other love angels. Limone in the manga, is one of the few characters that has Scarlet's respect and it is his orders that she dutifully follows in battle. When Limone is injured at one point, Scarlet stays with Yuri and observes her caring for him.

It is Limone's willingness to sacrifice himself for others, alongside his ongoing love for Lily, that endears him to Salvia by the conclusion of the series.

jama-pii

Salvia loathes Jama-Pii from the moment she sees him, even going so far as to raise the Saint Pure Sword against him (in the manga). The lovable little critter's crime? Being a devil. Regardless of his reformation under Peach, Salvia cannot look past his biological origins, claiming "There's no such thing as a reformed devil". Much of Jama-Pii's time subsequent to Salvia's introduction is then spent cowering from her and hiding behind Peach. Salvia continues to strongly resent Jama-Pii's presence amongst the love angels, disregarding his opinion in most situations based purely on his origins. The other angels are quick to leap to his defense, citing that he is their friend and companion- even if he is a devil.

As Salvia's emotional wounds heal, she begins to tolerate Jama-Pii to a greater extent. By the end of the series the pair become rather unlikely friends. Salvia's dislike for Jama-Pii never had anything to do with his personality or his attitude, it was simply her racism that kept her from appreciating his potential friendship. With Salvia's hate for the devils subsiding, she begins to appreciate Jama-Pii as a quirky companion.

In Wedding Peach DX Salvia spends much of her time on screen with Jama-Pii. During episode three, it is the investigative work of Jama-Pii and Scarlet that eventually reveals the truth behind the devil's missing head. In episode four, Jama-Pii and Salvia confront Dr. Belphegor together before chasing down Sakura to help the bewitched love angels. At the end of four, Jama-Pii even gives Scarlet a gift for Valentine's Day.

There aren't a lot of complicated moments between Jama-Pii and Salvia shown, but their eventual friendship proves just how much each character has evolved since they were introduced.

angel freesia

In the anime it is Freesia's death (fifteen years before the beginning of the series) that shapes much of Salvia's character. Although we know little about Freesia (she appears in a single scene) Salvia tells Peach that she was "...like a sister" and the pair shared a close bond. Apparently it was the death of Freesia's younger (biological) sister that brought out a vengeful side unbefitting of her usually calm nature. Salvia managed to talk her out of killing the devil who had murdered her sister however, this moment of mercy wound up costing Freesia her life- with the devil killing her too. It wasn't long before Salvia picked up her sword and sought revenge on Freesia's behalf. For over fifteen years Salvia fought in this manner, eradicating devils (whom she held collectively responsible for the death of her best friend.)

Momoko tells Salvia in the present that Freesia would not be happy with the path her life has taken, adding that- "...killing them (devils) won't bring her back". It is when Salvia manages to open her heart to potential new friendships that the Saint Something New begins to react to her love waves for the first time.

Although Salvia stops her tirade against all devils by the end of the series, she never forgets Freesia- someone who obviously had a considerable impact on her before war broke out.

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