History Manga / Loveless

* NoEnding: Subverted. It seemed like it wouldn't be published over here after Tokyopop dropped it, but Viz is picking up where they left off.

* NoEnding: Not here, anyway. Volume 10 finally chugged on out in May 2011, and the series started way back in 2003. WordOfGod says that the series will end at 15 volumes.
** Seems to finally be averted. The series was picked up by Viz after Tokyopop went under and the 9th volume was released in September 2012, and Volume 10 is scheduled for January 2013.

Formerly licensed in English by Tokyopop, the series is now being continued by VizMedia, who are also releasing two-in-one editions of the volumes that Tokyopop previously published.

* BreakTheCutie: Finally happens to Youji when he and Natsuo [[spoiler:confront Seimei]]. He breaks down and starts to cry, but Natsuo helps him out of it. Also happens to Ritsuka in his battle with Bloodless, and Soubi almost ''directly'' [[ItGotWorse after Youji's incident.]]

* PsychopathicManchild: Nisei. He takes delight in both stalking and torturing [[spoiler: Soubi and Ritsuka]], but refers to Soubi as 'mad' and 'creepy', and refers to himself as a pacifist. He's [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove a stranger to the concept of love]], but he also has no intention of ever finding out, even going so far as to call it sickening. Of course, the fans [[DracoInLeatherPants will have none of this]].

* AdultChild: Nagisa. Believe it or not, she's in her thirties.

Formerly licensed in English by Tokyopop, currently slated for a re-release and continuation by Viz.

[[caption-width-right:200:Soubi and Ritsuka battle it out]]

* [=~I'd Tell You But Then I'd Have To Kill You~=]: This is what [[spoiler: Seimei]] says to Youji and Natsuo when they ask [[spoiler: why he abandoned Soubi]]. Played straight and to horrifying effect when they start discussing books. Seriously. This is a rather twisted example, as it's less because of [[spoiler:he doesn't want to say as it is the fact that he hates to be questioned.]]

* PrincessCurls: Yurio. [[ViewerGenderConfusion Dammit!]]

* {{Shotacon}}: Soubi's relationship with Ritsuka gives off a bit of this vibe, but is definitely not the series' main focus or intention.

* IronicEcho: When Soubi repeats [[ChekhovsLecture the very words Ritsu once told him]] as a self-hypnosis to win in his fight against Natsuo and Youji.

* ChekhovsGun: Soubi introduced himself to Ritsuka as Seimei's friend. [[spoiler:However, it turns out that he despises Seimei more than anyone; even his former teacher, Ritsu.]] Also, Soubi was introduced as "he has no ears, so he's an adult". [[spoiler:[[{{backstory}} Though, if he hadn't lost his ears to Ritsu]], he'd probably still have them.]]
* ChekhovsLecture: Soubi admits to himself in his fight with Natsuo and Youji that the things taught to him by Ritsu saved him.

Despite the considerable [[BoysLove BL]] themes in ''Loveless'', the focus is more on relationships themselves and the dynamics between the people, be they straight, gay, or entirely non-romantic. The relationship between Ritsuka and Soubi, despite its initially [[{{Shotacon}} pedophilic surface aspect]], is more complicated and twisted than a simple case of a college student having the hots for a grade-schooler.

Among other things, the series deals with very real situations such as DomesticAbuse, childhood sexual abuse and trauma, and other "not for kids" issues. The series is also known for having MindScrew aspects of epic proportions.

* FanDisservice: Much of the sexuality, made so by the the ages of the ones involved. Most of the stuff involving the young Soubi is like this. [[{{Shotacon}} Depending on who you ask, anyway.]]

** The only 12 year olds who actually act like 12 year olds are Yuiko, Yayoi, and the kids in Ritsuka's class. Ritsuka acts like he's years older, as do the Zero boys and the other sacrifice-fighter pairs around their age. It's one of the reasons fans tend to accept the more {{Shotacon}}-leaning pairings.
*** This isn't that surprising, given that they have to fight and learn about themselves much more quickly than people without the honor of a MeaningfulName do.

Is in no way related towards [[SuperRobotWars Lamia]] [[NamesTheSame Loveless]] (this is not an anime of her descendants), nor the {{Shounen}} anime {{NEEDLESS}}, nor the play set in {{Final Fantasy VII}}. [[IncrediblyLamePun And no, it's not devoid of LOVE]]. Also has nothing to do with the iconic ''Loveless'', of MyBloodyValentine fame. It also has nothing to do with a certain [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Loveless country music singer]].

* FridgeHorror: [[spoiler:Seimei and Nisei]] had split up to attack the school for the Sentouki. While the latter had been in a fight with Ritsuka and Soubi (previously Midori and Ai), [[spoiler:Seimei]] was left to his own agenda. Although he's the ''Sacrifice'' of the two, he somehow managed to cause the majority of the problems listed in CrapsackWorld above. In other words, ''it may very well have been him'' who destroyed part of the Old School and injured others. The question is ''how?'' with a dose of ''with what?''. It's unknown who injured the unnamed four people, but there was ''not'' enough time for [[spoiler:Nisei]] to attack and wound four people by the time he reached Ritsuka, Midori and Ai. He reached them pretty quickly - even ''before'' the announcement that there was an intruder. After the fight with Ritsuka and Soubi, he was also unconscious, then taken captive. This goes back to the fact that ''the only other person'' who could have done all that damage was [[spoiler:Seimei]].
** It could very well be that the book Seimei recounted so offhandedly in volume 8 was actually [[spoiler: a retelling of what happened to Mikado in volume 10.]]

* HoYay: Ooh boy, where do we start? [[{{Shotacon}} Soubi and Ristsuka]], Soubi and Kio, [[MindRape Soubi and Seimei]], Soubi and Ritsu-sensei (one-sided, admittedly).
** [[EvenTheGuysWantHim Soubi seems to be a bit of a magnet for this, no?]]
** And then let's not forget the male Zeroes who, despite being [[{{Shotacon}} kids]], [[LikeAnOldMarriedCouple act like an old married couple]].
** Nisei towards Seimei. In a ''biiiig'' way.
** Yayoi has a brief moment of this upon meeting Ritsuka for the first time:
--->'''Yayoi:''' Aoyagi Ritsuka. He's pretty. Like a girl.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: The cute art style and fairly non-explicit relationship between Ritsuka and Soubi leads a lot of young teenage girls to read it - often completely missing the point that the series, and in particular Ritsuka and Soubi's relationship, is supposed to be quite disturbing. (After all, Ritsuka is ''twelve years old'', and Soubi is pushing him into a romantic relationship because [[spoiler: Ritsuka's own ''brother'' told him to]].)
** Can tie into MoralDissonance once young fangirls start thinking that a child's relationship with a masochistic pedophile is just adorable.

* YouWontGetAwayWithThis: Nagisa ''screams'' for Natsuo and Youji to kill [[spoiler:Seimei, after he blinded Ritsu]], over the phone.

* SpectacledSadist: Possibly Ritsu, but if he is, he has much more depth than the typical example.

* BeautyIsBad: This is a lesson learned. Our [[BigBadDuumvirate two]] [[BigBad Big Bads]] are both quite beautiful.
** Yeah. So are our heroes. So is Kyo. So are most of Ritsuka's classmates, excluding the {{Gonk}} ones. So are Fearless, Breathless, the Zeros and...oh, stuff it. [[TheBeautifulPeople Everyone]].

** Yeah. So are our heroes. So is Kyo. So are most of Ritsuka's classmates, excluding the {{Gonk}} ones. So are Fearless, Breathless and...oh, stuff it. [[TheBeautifulPeaople Everyone]].

** They are also shown with and [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean without]] ears, both in the anime and manga.