Probably the anime's most controversial couple, Ruka and Shiori have their own share of problems. Of course, their biggest problem is that their relationship was founded on a lie.
Probably the anime's most controversial couple, Ruka and Shiori have their own share of problems. Of course, their biggest problem is that their relationship was founded on a lie.
"While I was away, somebody polished my sword every day. It made me happy. It was you, wasn't it?"
"I only did it for your sake..."
Ruka knows full well that Shiori has been doing none of the sort, especially since the sword that fell out of his locker was not his sword in the first place. Shiori wonders how Ruka came up with such a scenario but follows along with it in order to win him. Neither of them is honest to the other, and their whole relationship is based purely on three things: sex, greed, and jealousy.
Sex is the easiest to explain out of the three. Both adolescents with active hormones, Ruka and Shiori are simply two out of the many students of Ohtori who find pleasure in engaging in the act of sex. (Others include the oh-so-suave Kiryuu Touga and the bitchy-as-hell Kaoru Kozue) For those who do have sex with someone at Ohtori, it is always purely based on ulterior motives. Touga desires power, and sex is a way to prove himself in Akio's eyes. Kozue is desperate for Miki's attention and sets about to gain it in a negative manner. Ruka and Shiori are no different. Shiori has sex with Ruka to possess him in the eyes of her classmates and peers. Ruka has sex with Shiori in order to turn her into his own pawn.
The game of sex leads directly into the game of greed and jealousy. Both Shiori and Ruka are greedy people, yet there are two different types of greed. Shiori's greed is purely self-centered, desiring to make herself happy, desiring to make herself look good, desiring to show up Juri in their ongoing contest. Shiori most likely never loves Ruka in any way except in a purely sexual manner. Ruka is her status symbol, a possession to be clung to and presented and waved about to the girls who aren't as lucky as she is. Shiori delights in the waves of jealousy emanating from her classmates. Who wouldn't want to date the tall, mysterious, and handsome captain of the fencing club?
"Your friend is selfish, pushy, egotistical, and a liar to boot. I'm sorry, but who would want someone like that?"
Ruka is as selfish as Shiori, but his selfishness is not purely for himself. Though that does not make his actions any less wrong, it does differentiate him from someone like Shiori. Throughout episode 28, leading up to his duel with Utena, it is obvious that he is flaunting Shiori just as much as Shiori flaunts him...with one exception. Ruka flaunts his possession in front of no one except for Juri. Her opinion is the only one he cares for. His motive is to make her jealous, and he very quickly succeeds.
Unfortunately, Ruka's game of possession comes to an end before Shiori is ready for hers to. The screaming scene in the Ohtori courtyard is a rather cruel way for Ruka to break up with her; yet Ruka obviously has a keen flair for dramatics. If he had broken up with her quietly, Shiori would have definitely tried to keep pretending nothing had happened. The dramatic scene was needed in order to show her once and for all that he wanted nothing to do with her.
Was Ruka right in doing what he did with Shiori? Yes and no. There are more implications to his deeds than can be grasped all at once, and each must be taken in the correct context. Were there other ways of accomplishing the same task without hurting Shiori? Knowing both Shiori and Juri, probably not. Shiori was no more than a stepping stone to Ruka's goal and one of the many "sacrifices" that he mentions again and again. Shiori's scheming backfires on her when she least expects it to, and that is enough sacrifice for Ruka.