Characters / Finder Series

This page is for tropes related to characters appearing in Finder Series.

Note on naming: All Japanese and Chinese names are written in the Eastern order (surname before first name), whereas all other names are written in the Western order (first name before surname).

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Main Characters

Takaba Akihito

Voiced by: Akira Sasanuma (1st Drama CD), Tetsuya Kakihara (2nd Drama CD, OVA)

Eyes that never lose their brilliance, even when captured by darkness.

A freelance photographer who is thrown into the chaos of the criminal underworld after running into Asami.

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• Action Survivor: He's either lucky or quick enough to make it out alive of situations where he could easily have gotten himself killed.
• Affectionate Nickname: Some of his friends call him "Aki-chan".
• Am I Just a Toy to You?: While Akihito already showed signs of being in turmoil from the idea that he means nothing to Asami in the Naked Truth arc, this trope truly becomes one of the main conflicts in their relationship in the first half of the Pray in the Abyss arc, besides all the people trying to get him and/or Asami killed. It doesn't help that many of the other characters assume, or even say to Akihito's face, that he's just some pet that Asami keeps around for fun.
• Beware the Nice Ones: He's the most kind-hearted character in the manga, which isn't hard to be in a story involving the criminal underworld. But the Naked Truth arc shows that if pushed too far, he's willing to get violent.
  Akihito: Just because I keep quiet, they take advantage of all that... I've had enough.
• Big Eater: He seems to take in a significant amount of food for his size. Even after he loses his memories, he still retains his large appetite.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: The first chapter of the Innocent Eye arc has Akihito get kidnapped, subjected to hypnotherapy, and administered with medicines that tamper with the chemicals in his brain, making it easy for any ideas to be implanted into his head, including the idea that he should kill his own lover.
• Break the Cutie:
  • Zigzagged during the Hong Kong arc, which basically showed how much physical and mental torture Akihito could take before he eventually snapped... and it took a lot. He does get better after getting some time to cool off his trauma on a tropical island, but the later chapters hint that what happened still has an effect on him.
  • This is eventually played straight in the Innocent Eye arc; where the culmination of the physical trauma from his wounds, the emotional trauma from seeing Asami supposedly die from his wounds, and being held in captivity all while being hypnotized and administered with brainwashing drugs, eventually got to his mind in more ways than one.
• But I Would Really Enjoy It: An initial source of internal conflict for Akihito, in addition to not knowing Asami’s true feelings at first was acknowledging the fact that he genuinely enjoyed the things Asami did to him, despite verbal protests to the contrary. This served to be a source of embarrassment and shame for Akihito for a period of time, but the events of Naked Truth made facing this truth easier for him. He eventually gets over this completely.
• Cannot Spit It Out: When he's alone with his own thoughts, Akihito knows what is going on with himself when it comes to his relationship with Asami. But should he try to communicate them out loud, particularly when it comes to how he feels for the other man, his words almost always end up getting caught in his throat. It takes one more near-death experience and the temporary loss of his memories for Akihito to finally confess his feelings, two volumes after Asami had done the same.
• Can't Hold His Liquor: A few shots of whiskey is enough to get Akihito utterly wasted.
• The Charmer: Akihito has an inherent appeal that has quite a lot of people become smitten with him, albeit unwittingly.
• Chick Magnet: Downplayed; Akihito ends up attracting the attention of men way more often, but a famous idol also ends up getting a crush on him after he rescued her from a stalker. Not that he's aware of the young woman's crush, however.
• Corrupt the Cutie: His moral compass is slipping somewhat over the course of the story thanks to his experiences and his association with Asami, and even he's aware of this fact.
• Cosmic Plaything: Ever since he crossed paths with Asami, Akihito has a hard time catching a break even when he actively tries to keep his distance from the criminal underworld.
• Crazy Jealous Guy: Largely downplayed; by the time the Pray in the Abyss arc kicks in, Akihito comes to accept the fact that he won't accept anyone laying their hands on Asami; although he's undoubtedly the less possessive of the two, and not to mention, he has understandable reasons for worrying about anyone who may have an intererst in someone of Asami's background, especially after encountering someone like Sudou.
• Damsel in Distress: Given that Akihito is a Fish out of Water in the underbelly of Japan, it's only a given that he'd end up getting in trouble, and plenty of trouble at that.
  • After initially being kidnapped buy Asami and subsequently developing feelings for him, Asami's enemies catch on and often draw out Asami by capturing Akihito and using him as bait.
  • Fei Long takes Akihito's friends hostage in order to give him incentive to gather information from Asami in exchange for his friends' safety.
• Depending on the Artist: The author confirms that Akihito dyes his hair; although the color of said dye is never consistent. Sometimes, he's drawn with light blond hair; other times he's drawn with platinum hair instead.
• Does Not Like Spam:
  • After a certain Noodle Incident, he grew to hate tomatoes to the point that he doesn't even want to see one again.
  • Official material also states that he doesn't like onions.
• Don't You Dare Pity Me!: When Asami notes that Akihito may have yet to truly get over what happened in Hong Kong, Akihito gets huffy and retorts that he's not made of glass. He ends up not helping his own case when he nearly drowns shortly afterwards when he suffers a PTSD-induced episode.
• Face Death with Dignity: Attempted. After Akihito reveals to Asami that he sold out some crucial information to Fei Long in exchange for his friends's safety, he braces himself for what he expects to be a torturous death afterwards; though he gets nothing even close to a punch for it.
• Full-Name Basis: Akihito is on the receiving end of this trope from both Kirishima and Suoh, who always call him by his complete name.
• Heroic BSoD: Akihito briefly goes through one after the events of the Naked Truth arc. While he tries to act fine, he occasionally suffers from nightmares and shuts himself in a room for a few days after he nearly drowned after suffering a panic attack.
• Housewife: Hilariously lampshaded after the events of the Escape and Love arc, where Akihito moves in with Asami and pays his rent by doing all the housework. There's even an extra in Volume 6 called "Takaba Akihito's Fulfilling Life As a Housewife" which features him cooking, vacuuming, doing laundry and cleaning— including throwing out Asami's antique guns (the very latter of which Akihito gets in trouble for later). The concierge even addresses Akihito as "Asami-sama".
• In a Single Bound: Akihito is literally quick on his feet and is capable of making high jumps when he needs to make a break for it.
• The Ingenue: At first, but Akihito's exposure to the criminal underworld makes him graduate from this trope really quickly. That being said, although he's pragmatic enough to acknowledge the dark reality he's thrust into, he still retains a sense of idealism and pacifism that he's reluctant to shed despite the countless dangers he's faced with.
• Innocent Blue Eyes: Akihito is drawn with bluish-gray eyes in the OVA, which highlights his naivete.
• Intrepid Reporter: Akihito is trying to make it in the journalism industry by getting interesting scoops. It is precisely because of this goal that he and Asami ended up crossing paths in the first place.
• Japanese Delinquents: Akihito is mentioned to have a juvie record, and the character book describes that he has caused enough trouble to become quite infamous in the Yokohama precinct. However, the character book doesn't go into further detail about what exactly he did in his delinquent years, only describing that they were "pretty bad".
• Kindhearted Cat Lover: Akihito gets along well with cats.
• Language Barrier: Unlike the rest of the cast, Akihito suffers from this trope. He only knows a bit of English, and the Naked Truth arc makes it painfully obvious that he can't understand a lick of the Chinese language.
• Living MacGuffin: Akihito attracts a lot of people, be it in a positive or negative way, which becomes a driving force throughout most of the story.
• Love Hurts: Not without reason, however. One: Akihito is a photographer trying to get a big scoop by uncovering any shady dealings, and yet he is in a relationship with one of the most powerful figureheads of Japan's underworld. Two: because of the simple fact that he has no ties to the criminal underworld and is not all too keen on taking an actual human life, Akihito worries that he'll never be seen as an equal by the other man. And that is just to name a few of the many reasons Akihito is fraught with insecurities.
• Meaningful Name:
  • The aki (明) in his name means "bright" in Japanese, which fits his perky personality. The name is also meaningful for another reason, since as described by the author in her notes for Volume 10:
    Yamane Ayano: Asami may be thinking that the person in front of him is an angel or an incomprehensible creature, but it's simply a bright existence right before his eyes.
  • Likewise, the hito (仁) in his name means "compassionate", which Akihito is in spades and makes him stand out from the rest of the cast, who are morally dubious at best.
• Morality Chain:
  • Although Asami is shown to have a few Pet the Dog moments, it is Akihito's presence in particular that shows that Asami isn't completely unscrupulous and is capable of feeling deep love for someone else.
  • Akihito is also one of the few people who Fei Long has grown to genuinely care for — to the point the man is even willing to work together with Asami, in spite of their complicated history, if it means saving Akihito from danger.
• Nightmare Fetishist: Downplayed. In an extra, Akihito squeals in joy over how scary a movie is.
• Not with Them for the Money: Akihito adamantly refuses Asami's offers to support him. He eventually relents to a degree in the Escape and Love arc when he moves into the other's apartment, although this is only because he was being stalked and harassed by an idol's vicious fanbase and he needed some place to hide while waiting for the storm to blow over.
• Older Than They Look: Akihito is 23 years old, but he looks 18. This is lampshaded by the fact that he's barred from nightclubs because of his perceived age and Asami usually has to order drinks for him.
• Only a Flesh Wound: Played straight. Akihito gets shot near the end of the Naked Truth arc, but it's revealed that the bullet only grazed his shoulder.
• The Pollyanna: His default mood seems to be cheerful. He's also stated to be a person who focuses on the positive and dislikes dwelling on the negative.
• Slave Brand: After Fei Long kidnaps him, Akihito's hand gets branded with the mark of the Baishe to make it clear to anyone who sees it that he is now Fei Long's property. After Akihito gets rescued by Asami, the mark is done away with via laser tattoo removal.
• So Beautiful, It's a Curse: Akihito's looks have played a role in his misfortunes, but he never complains about it once. He does not even seem to realize the appeal he has on other people, especially men.
• Stockholm Syndrome: There are shades of this trope in his relationship with Asami, and Akihito even acknowledges this in one chapter after he hesitates on turning in a criminal out of the fear that it could end up implicating Asami.
  Akihito: Why, of all people, does it have to be you? You're the sort of person who does things I can never forgive.
• Supreme Chef: On top of being able to do all kinds of housework, Akihito also knows how to prepare his own meals.
• Sweet Tooth: Akihito loves sweets, something that Asami teases him mercilessly for.
• Sympathy for the Devil: Downplayed; but despite what Fei Long had done to him, Akihito still harbors sympathy for the man and confronts him over his issues out of worry rather than hatred.
• Technical Pacifist: Akihito won't hesitate to fight back if needed, but he always falters when faced with the possibility of actually killing someone. This is reflected in his refusal to wield a gun unless absolutely necessary.
• Too Dumb to Live: Played with. More often than not, Akihito does some pretty stupid things and pays heavily for those actions even if he does not actually die, but he is aware that he often came close to paying for his foolishness with his life.
• Took a Level in Badass: Although the brainwashing drugs and mind-conditioning therapy had something to do with it, the Innocent Eye arc shows that Akihito has become more proficient with using guns and knives in combat.
• Trademark Favorite Food: Sweets, especially ice cream.
• Trauma-Induced Amnesia: Even before he was kidnapped and placed under Simon's care, Sakazaki noted that when Akihito first came to, he didn't recognize anyone around him. It's strongly implied that this is both from the physical trauma of his wounds and the emotional trauma he suffered from the belief that he failed to save Asami.
• Tsundere: He's normally dere-dere, but Asami brings out Akihito's tsun side, given that he's The Tease in their relationship.
• Uke: It's practically a given that Akihito is the bottom in his relationship with Asami.
• Violently Protective Girlfriend: A same-sex example. Despite being the one in need of saving more often than not, Akihito will react quickly if he ever gets the hint that someone or something poses as a threat to Asami. Sudou ends up learning this the hard way.
• What Beautiful Eyes!: As described in Akihito's character stats, his eyes "never lose their brilliance, even when captured by darkness".
• What Does She See in Him?: Neither Sudou nor Kuroda have any idea what Asami sees in Akihito.

Asami Ryuichi

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (1st Drama CD), Takaya Kuroda (2nd Drama CD, OVA)

Ambition and passion hidden behind tobacco smoke.

An influential businessman with several ties to the criminal underworld. He takes an interest in Akihito after the latter attempts to get a scoop on him.

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• Affectionate Gesture to the Head: Asami has a habit of patting Akihito on the head while ruffling his hair; although this gesture is meant to be demeaning during the early stages of their relationship, as it hints as how Asami still didn't take Akihito completely seriously at the time, what with him often calling the other a kid or a brat. Over time, however, it becomes his way of expressing his genuine fondness for the younger man.
• Animal Motifs: He is portrayed with a panther in the artwork, and he's often featured with cats in general.
• Anti-Villain: Asami seems to have a few scruples left, but he is still a very dark and ruthless character.
• Badass in a Nice Suit: The only time Asami wears casual clothes is during the vacation in the island and at home, and they're very high-end casual clothes.
• Brains and Bondage: Asami is very cunning and calculating... and he also a whole secret chamber filled with BDSM equipment.
• Cannot Spit It Out: Downplayed; although Asami is frank and very blunt with his words, sentimentality is far from his strongest suit. This often gets in the way of his relationship with Akihito, who seeks affirmation deep down that he is more than just a sex partner to Asami, but the man has a hard time talking about feelings as it is without also voicing how possessive he can be of Akihito, which just doesn't help either of their cases. He gets better by the last third of the Pray in the Abyss arc, but he still has a long, long ways to go.
• Child Hater: Played with. Asami doesn't dislike children, per se, but the "Little Monster +1" extra shows that he's not too keen on the idea of taking care of one.
• Closet Key: According to the character book, Akihito didn't think much about pursuing any romance... until he runs into Asami, that is.
• The Comically Serious: He has his moments, especially with Akihito, and sometimes his secretary as well; although Asami is capable of making jokes and definitely has a sense of humor.
• Crazy Jealous Guy: Asami even warns Akihito at one point that he will kill anyone who so much as lays their hands on Akihito, no matter who they are. Unlike most other examples of the trope, however, this doesn't make him controlling of Akihito as he lets the other do as he pleases, and only steps in when Akihito gets into something that could place him in mortal danger.
• Daddy Issues: Downplayed. Although neither the manga nor the novel ever hint at what exactly is going on between Asami and his father, the fact that he stays estranged from his family and refuses to work for his father makes it clear that their relationship is far from a positive one.
  Asami: That's my father's way: only those who throw thesmelves into the battlefield and return alive are recognized. And he doesn't give a shit about those that die.
• Death Glare: He can give one hell of a cold and fierce look to anyone who crosses him or even angers him enough.
• Determinator: No one can take away Akihito and get away with it for long. If that ever happens, Asami will do whatever it takes to bring him back. Whatever it takes.
• Fiction 500: Asami's annual income has eleven figures in yen, which would be the equivalent of a nine-figure income in American dollars.
• Fool for Love: In the Naked Truth arc, Asami assembles a team of his own men, ventures to Hong Kong even when he still has not yet fully recovered from a gunshot wound, teams up with the Russian mafiya to force Fei Long into a corner, and rushes headlong into danger even when this ends up reopening his injuries. He does all of this just so he can rescue Akihito from Fei Long.
• The Gadfly: When it comes to Akihito, at least. Asami gets a kick out of riling the younger man either through his words or his actions. Even when their relationship improves, Asami still makes sure to tease Akihito once in a while.
• Genius Bruiser: Asami is cunning and manipulative, as well as a very efficient combatant.
• Half-Sibling Angst: Asami does not get along with his older half-brother Maxim; although it's hinted that this also applies for everyone else in his family.
• Has a Type: His type is young and feisty, both of which Akihito is in spades.
• The Heavy: Not only Asami is physically imposing, but most of the conflicts in the story are also jump-started by him, or have something to do with him to a degree.
• Hidden Depths: Finder no Souen revealed that when Asami was younger, he dreamed of running his own bar.
• Horrible Judge of Character: Downplayed. Although he claims to Akihito that he can tell if someone can be trusted or not by looking into their eyes, the plot makes it apparent that Asami has misjudged a few people, which sometimes ended with more catastrophic results than expected. Though it should be noted that only the people he is shown to have misjudged tend to be those who have very complicated feelings towards him, such as Akihito, Fei Long, and Sudou.
• I Love You Because I Can't Control You: Seems to be the case with him and Akihito. Akihito keeps rejecting him and it only inflames Asami's desire for the boy.
• Ladykiller in Love: A same-sex example; Asami displays this trope after meeting Akihito. His sexual expertise suggests a lot of experience and he very easily seduced Fei Long. And yet after meeting Akihito, he is never seen engaging in intimacy with anyone else. While it's obvious his feelings for Akihito become something more, it takes until the climax of Volume 11 for the trope to be sealed in stone when Asami tells Akihito that he loves him.
• Last-Name Basis: Almost everyone addresses him by only his last name, with the exception of Kuroda, Maxim and Alex. The trope even gets lampshaded in the Pray in the Abyss arc:
  Kuroda: Is there a reason why you're staring a hole in my face?
  Akihito: How do you know Asami? You're obviously close if you call him by his first name.
  Kuroda: You mean Ryuichi?
  Akihito: That's what I'm talking about! No one else would dare call Asami by his first name!
• Lima Syndrome: Asami pursues Akihito because he finds the other amusing and interesting, although he wasn't exactly the nicest or most considerate partner back then. Over time, however, as their relationship develops from a purely physical tryst into something else, so do his feelings for Akihito.
• Lonely at the Top: Subtly hinted. Asami does not seem to have any friends or family and spends New Year, which is a family holiday, all alone.
• Love at First Sight: More like intense lust at first sight, but he became fascinated very quickly with Akihito on their first encounter and it evolved into a full blown obsession.
• Love Makes You Crazy: In the Naked Truth arc, he first horribly slaughters a messenger in anger, and then he threatens to blow up the ship if he doesn't get Akihito back. Even beforehand, he has a moment of self-awareness when he realizes that he's starting to act hasty and rather worked up about the entire situation.
• Made of Iron: Asami can take a lot of damage and still keep going. For example, he decides to risk taking on Fei Long — and the entirety of Baishe — only weeks after being severely injured. However, the manga also makes it clear that he can only endure so much injuries before he starts to slow down, especially when he's in the heat of battle.
• Man of Wealth and Taste: Asami wears custom-made designer suits and only smokes Dunhills, among other things.
• Manipulative Bastard: Asami played Fei Long like a fiddle in the past, and he is also very manipulative towards Akihito.
• Master of the Mixed Message: For as much as he's not someone who sugarcoats his words, both his actions and his words leave Akihito in turmoil over where he stands in their relationship for some time. It doesn't help that in the early stages of their relationship, Asami told Akihito point-blank that he doesn't hold that much worth to him, yet most of the actions he takes afterwards with regards to the younger man say the very opposite.
• Not Quite Dead: After getting what seemed like fatal shots to the torso, Asami passes out in Akihito's arms and is no longer able to respond to the other's cries. However, the epilogue of the Pray in the Abyss arc shows that he's still alive, but his injuries were severe enough to send him into a coma for a few months.
• Not So Stoic: He's almost always level-headed, except when too many of his buttons are pushed at once, or if Akihito is in some form of danger.
• Oblivious to Love: Asami may be normally sharp-eyed in reading people and figuring out their motives, though he's not necessarily the best in figuring out who (besides Akihito) may be infatuated with him. Although he learns of Sudou's betrayal and guesses that the man did it for his own ambitions, it never dawns on him that Sudou is also obsessed with him, and dangerously so.
• Omniglot: Besides Japanese, Asami is also fluent in English. It's also implied that he can understand both Cantonese (given that he previously worked for Fei Long's father) as well as Russian.
• One-Man Army: A realistic take on the trope; he is capable of holding on his own against a group of armed men, but there are times he's not always in control of the fight and he soon finds himself at a disadvantage.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: While usually rather composed, Asami completely loses his temper after hearing Akihito's voice for the first time since his kidnapping in the Naked Truth arc and promptly empties his gun into an enemy mook. His own men are shocked by his burst of anger.
• Pet the Dog: When a little boy accidentally knocked his ice cream on Asami's expensive suit, Asami's response was to send his assistant to go buy a larger ice cream cone.
• Real Men Can Cook: It's revealed in the Innocent Eye arc that he knows how to cook, which he displays by personally preparing Akihito's meals.
• Real Men Hate Sugar: On a side story, Asami has to eat some sweets to show himself as a good guest, and it quickly becomes evident from his grimace that he loathes sweet stuff. Although an extra chapter centered around his birthday shows him enjoying the taste of brown sugar bubble tea when he tries the drink for the first time.
• Safety Gear Is Cowardly: Even when he walks straight into danger, Asami never wears any form of safety gear. The Innnocent Eyes arc reveals that this is because he thinks that wearing them will only be a burden on him.
• Self-Made Man: In a sense. Although his father also has strong and powerful ties to the criminal underworld, Asami did not wish to take over his father's business and rose through the ranks through his own merit and skill.
• Seme: The very epitome of one. He's even the poster man for the trope in this site for a reason.
• Sharp-Dressed Man: He's almost always seen wearing a suit.
• Sherlock Scan: Asami has very sharp eyes, both literally and figuratively, as hardly any detail escapes him. For example, he managed to deduce that his employee had been murdered in the hospital just by catching sight of two Chinese guys.
• Smoking Is Glamorous: Asami is seen smoking every now and then, which does help add to his mature kind of charm. He is confirmed to have taken up smoking since he was 15 years old.
• The Stoic: He's not unexpressive, but he maintains an aloof and icy facade and has a good rein on his emotions most of the time... unless it involves Akihito.
• Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Asami fits the trope to a tee; he stands at an impressive height of 185 cm, he's always featured with the color black in some way, and he is most definitely not lacking in the looks department. He's even described to have a "cold but beautiful" appearance in the character book.
• Tall, Dark, and Snarky: He can be quite scathing when the situation calls for it, and he clearly enjoys in engaging in some witty banter with Akihito.
• Took a Level in Kindness: As his feelings for Akihito grow, he begins to show a gentler and more vulnerable side to the younger man.
• Tranquil Fury: He displays his anger through a calm veneer. The only way one can realize that Asami decides to be explosive instead with his anger is through his gun.
• Violently Protective Girlfriend: A gender-inverted example; anyone who even so much as thinks of doing anything unpleasant to Akihito will always end up either dead or beaten within an inch of their life.
• When He Smiles: While the reader does see a smile from him every now and then, they always contain a hint of a smirk of sorts. It's only in the end of the Pray in the Abyss arc that he shows a genuinely heartfelt and gentle smile when he gives Akihito an (attempted) Dying Declaration of Love.
  Yamane Ayano: This scene was so crucial that Asami's expression underwent endless redraws before it was finalized. Even I was clueless as to how Asami should look in certain situations.
• Wicked Cultured: Asami wears only expensive and finely tailored suits, drinks scotch, and smokes only Dunhills.
• Your Tradition Is Not Mine: Asami does not want any place in his family's organization.

Liu Fei Long

Voiced by: Hideo Ishikawa (1st Drama CD), Nobuo Tobita (2nd Drama CD, OVA)

Standing delicately while embracing the dragon which seethes within.

The leader of the drug syndicate Baishe.

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• Adoption Diss: Fei Long was often belittled and mocked by Yan Tsui for being a bastard child.
• Agent Peacock: One of Fei Long's most noticeable traits is that he's a Long-Haired Pretty Boy. He's also a trained fighter, able to hold his own against Asami.
• All Love Is Unrequited: It's hinted that Fei Long has feelings for both Asami and Akihito, but if this is the case, neither of the two return the sentiment.
• Bastard Bastard: Fei Long is an illegitimate child born of an illicit affair.
• The Beautiful Elite: He's one of the top hats in the criminal underworld and basically has power over all of Hong Kong, and more than one character in the manga has taken notice of his fair appearance.
• Breakout Character: According to the author, she initially planned to have Fei Long embark on a murder spree, which would have led to his death. But after the Flower of the High Loft arc, both fans and the author liked him too much, so she changed the plot in a way that he would ultimately survive.
• Break the Cutie: The High Loft arc describes how Fei Long's world fell apart after he meets Asami. He's later explicitely described in Naked Truth Zero as being so broken that he doesn't even care about the assassins sent after him in jail.
• Can't Hold His Liquor: Fei Long gets drunk easily in the Flower of the High Loft arc, and it reaches the extent where Asami takes a glass of bourbon from him and replaces it with orange juice. Although the Naked Truth arc hints that his alcohol tolerance has since improved.
• Crazy Jealous Guy: A lot of Fei Long's actions in the Naked Truth arc evoke the trope, since it's hinted that, besides business and revenge, the reason he creates trouble for Akihito and even captures him is because he's vexed at the fact that Asami has taken an interest in someone else.
• Daddy Issues: Simply put, a lot of his personal problems can be traced back to his complicated history with his father.
• Did You Think I Can't Feel?: A more subdued example than most, but when Akihito states that Fei Long doesn't seem to have any feelings given that he barely reacts to anything around him, Fei Long later makes a comment about Akihito's statement:
  Fei Long: You say I remain calm even after someone special to me is harmed? I am the same as you, Akihito. There's no way I can remain calm. I am a person who moves on emotions; it's just that I do things differently than you.
• Does Not Drive: According to the author, Fei Long doesn't have a license.
• Dude Looks Like a Lady: Fei Long's face is very androgynous, and he would have been completely mistaken for a woman if it weren't for his broad shoulders and otherwise muscular torso. Not to mention, almost everyone in the entire cast has taken note of his beauty; and Asami even tells Fei Long that he not only looks like a woman, he sometimes acts like one. Having his hair cut short in prison does nothing to lessen his feminine appearance.
• Even the Guys Want Him: Many men have attempted to make their move on Fei Long due to his stunning and fair appearance.
• Extremity Extremist: Downplayed; but in the situations where Fei Long has no firearms with him, he resorts to using his legs and feet in combat instead, and he can deliver a really powerful kick even without any footwear.
• Functional Addict: Fei Long is often seen smoking an opium pipe, though he doesn't act like he ever gets addled from the stuff.
• I Just Want to Be Loved: Fei Long's whole motivation for his ruthless (and often destructive) actions is that he feels that no one has truly loved him.
• In Vino Veritas: The Naked Truth arc shows that when Fei Long is intoxicated he’s a lot looser in terms of expressing his feelings. He’s open about his fears to Akihito while drunk, and when he initiates intimacy with Akihito, Fei Long conveys his growing feelings of love for Akihito by treating the latter more like a lover than he had with their prior sexual encounters. Unfortunately despite the difference in treatment Fei Long still disregards Akihito’s consent on the matter, and Akihito endures the encounter by fantasizing that he’s with Asami.
• I Own This Town: The entirety of Hong Kong is Fei Long's territory. There is nothing in Hong Kong that Fei Long doesn't know about, and very little ever manages to slip from his control.
• I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: In the aftermath of Naked Truth, Fei Long feels an incredible amount of guilt over kidnapping Akihito, essentially treating him like a sex slave, and nearly getting him killed by involving him in criminal activities against his will. Though he had appeared to have developed feelings for Akihito during the arc Fei Long doesn’t pursue Akihito and instead becomes invested in his happiness and well-being. Even if it means seeing Akihito be with Asami.
• I Was Just Passing Through: Fei Long is guilty of the trope a few times.
  • He tries to ship Akihito and Asami off to safety while bargaining Mikhail into getting rid of the Russian organization threatening their lives... by sleeping with him. When Mikhail asks him, if he'd really go this far for Asami's sake, Fei Long answers: "My actions are for my own benefit." No one believes him— especially not Mikhail.
  • Later on, Fei Long arrives to save Mikhail from Yuri, claiming that he had been searching for Asami and was surprised to find the former instead. In fact Fei Long on his way through the building had only had to follow the noise of a gunfight Asami was involved in to find him, but instead happened to stumble upon Mikhail. Therefore it's rather unlikely that he didn't go after Mikhail deliberately.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold:
  • Fei Long is a ruthless triad boss, but he also possesses a soft core. He spares Yoh's life even after learning of the other's role as a double agent, takes in an orphan, cares deeply for Tao and Akihito, tries to save Asami from Chernobog, plays cupid between the main couple, has scruples about getting his brother murdered (who just tried to rape him).
  • Although he often acts as if he's not the most fond of Mikhail, he pats the latter's head in order to soothe him down, although he doesn't want Mikhail to tell anyone.
    Fei Long: This is a secret between us.
• Lima Syndrome: Fei Long kidnaps Akihito so as to spite Asami, but even he finds himself taking a liking to Akihito, and it's strongly hinted that he actually grows to have some form of affection for the younger man due to his kindness and honesty. By the end of the Naked Truth arc, Fei Long even comes to feel regret for treating Akihito the way he did.
  Fei Long: (to Akihito) I should have spent more time taking you away from him. With you, I thought I could keep you near and even come to love you.
• Lonely at the Top: Despite being a feared crime leader, Fei Long has a hard time trusting anyone other than Tao in the Baishe.
• Long-Haired Pretty Boy: Fei Long is notably the only male character among the cast with long and flowing locks, and the fact that he's a full-fledged Bishōnen has been taken note of on more than occasion.
• Man of Wealth and Taste: He is always dressed in high-fashion Chinese garb, but there are a few times he's seen wearing a suit or some other form of expensive wear.
• Meaningful Name: Fei Long means "flying dragon". He is even called a dragon in two of the four chapters' opening pages in the High Loft arc.
• Omniglot: Fei Long is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Japanese. It's also implied that he can understand Russian.
• Parental Substitute: Fei Long serves as a father figure for Tao, since he treats the young boy as if he were his own son.
• Pitiful Worms: Fei Long holds a scornful sentiment towards anybody who pisses him off.
  Fei Long: Those Russians - and you - are nothing but cockroaches scuttling about my feet.
• Seme: Downplayed; the one time Fei Long gets to take the initiative during sex is when he kept Akihito captive.
• Sex for Solace:
  • In Finder no Rakuin Fei Long sleeps with Yoh because he wants to "feel the warmth of another person". It can also count as Rescue Sex, given that Yoh has saved him from being raped by Yan Tsui.
  • Haunted by his past and the events in the Pray in the Abyss arc, Fei Long turns to Mikhail to let off some steam. It's also hinted to be an attempt of self-therapy for him.
• Sex Slave: Both the author's notes and Finder no Rakuin point out that Fei Long wasn't a virgin at any point of the manga's storyline because he had to "use his body as a weapon" when he was still working for his brother Yan Tsui for the benefits of Baishe.
• Smoking Is Glamorous: Fei Long is sometimes seen smoking an opium pipe, which further emphasizes his image as a Chinese crime boss.
• So Beautiful, It's a Curse: Fei Long's looks ended up doing him far more harm than good.
• Soft-Spoken Sadist: Whenever he torments Akihito or has his way with him, Fei Long never raises his voice.
• Speed Blitz: Fei Long's major strength in combat is his speed.
• Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Fei Long is usually stoic and quiet, but he shows a gentler side when he's around Tao.
• Tragic Villain: The events during the High Loft arc changed Fei Long's personality for the worst, as shown in how he acts at present.
• Tritagonist: Although he doesn't show up as often as Akihito and Asami do in the manga, Fei Long nevertheless also plays a huge role in the overall plot, especially in the first few arcs. There is even a novel centered around what happens to Fei Long between the Naked Truth arc and the Pray in the Abyss arc.
• Tsundere: Often enough he's able to hide it, but sometimes his true emotions end up showing through the cold-hearted facade he puts up.
• Uke: Downplayed; as Fei Long is the only character in the manga who has played both as a bottom and a top in a relationship. Although they never went that far, Fei Long is clearly pictured as the former with Asami, and he also serves as the bottom after he and Mikhail begin sleeping together.
• Wicked Cultured: Fei Long wears either traditional Chinese costumes or fancy suits, and there's also his appreciation of tea and the occasional glass of expensive liquor.

Supporting Characters

Japan

Kirishima Kei

Voiced by: Yoshihisa Kawahara (2nd Drama CD, OVA)

Asami's devoted and very capable secretary.

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• Alliterative Name: Kirishima Kei.
• Battle Butler: Kirishima is Asami's assistant and a capable fighter. In a side story, he is also shown cooking and ironing Asami's clothes.
• The Comically Serious: He's completely earnest in his job, which lends to the humor in some of the moments when he's either fussing over his boss or scolding Akihito whenever younger man gets into (or causes) trouble.
• Creature of Habit: Kirishima fits the bill, what with being very professional and punctual. At times, he even comes across as a Schedule Fanatic.
• Four Eyes, Zero Soul: According to the author, he is rather sadistic but no evidence has been shown in the plot. However, he is still second to a crime lord, and it is extremely unlikely he got there by being nice.
• Informed Ability: His supposed sadistic nature, which the reader still doesn't get to see even by the time of the Innocent Eye arc.
• Line-of-Sight Name: Akihito calls Kirishima by the very apt nickname "Glasses Secretary".
• Made of Iron: He loses consciousness after protecting Akihito from being shot by Yuri, but calmly calls up Asami afterwards and nonchalantly reports about his injuries, while apologizing for losing track of Akihito.
• Supreme Chef
• Sweet Tooth: Seems to like them, as he asked Asami if he could eat a pumpkin pudding (that neither knew belonged to Akihito) in an omake.
• Undying Loyalty: There is a good reason he is Asami's second-in-command, and Kirishima has demonstrated on a few occasions that he is willing to risk his life for his boss' safety.

Suoh Kazumi

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (2nd Drama CD, OVA)

Asami's bodyguard.

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• The Big Guy: Needless to say, the man has a large and towering figure, and this is something considering most of the cast already stand at an impressive height.
• Embarrassing First Name: Who would have expected a big and tough guy like him to have a cute name like Kazumi?
• Gentle Giant: Suoh is shown tending to Kirishima's injuries, and he is described to be a bit clumsy. And his early interactions with Akihito seem indulgent.
• Hidden Eyes: The reader never really gets to see his eyes, which are always shadowed over.
• Supreme Chef: Suoh can cook food that is delicious enough to make Akihito cry, since the latter didn't get to have a proper meal in a very long time.

Sudou Shu (Warning: Unmarked Spoilers)

• Alas, Poor Villain: After being the catalyst for so much of the drama in Pray in the Abyss and nearly killing Akihito and Asami, Sudou’s fate in Innocent Eyes shows a man suffering from severe brain damage, doped to the gills, unable to walk and utterly defenseless. Despite everything Sudou did, the state he has been left in is grisly. Likewise, even after recovering his memories — including how Sudou nearly got him and Asami killed — Akihito can't bring himself to leave Sudou to die when he has the chance.
• Ax-Crazy: Sudou gradually spirals down from his unfulfilled love for Asami, turning into a complete psychopath on a murder spree. Akihito himself even thinks that Sudou is insane, going so far as to call the man twisted to his face.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: Sudou has it worse than Akihito when it comes to the mind-wiping treatment he was subjected to by Simon; since he's left addled and with the mentality of a toddler who has only started learning how to talk.
• The Chessmaster: Sudou manages to play all his enemies into converging on the same warehouse, in hopes of having them get rid of each other.
• The Heavy: It is Sudou's very presence that causes majority of the problems the main characters are faced with in the Pray in the Abyss arc. His actions also helped make way for the events of the Innocent Eye arc.
• Love Makes You Crazy: Sudou took this trope and ran with it— especially when he storms into a crumbling building to shoot the man he both loves and despises to disturbing degrees.
• Yandere: Sudou has quite the unhealthy fixation on Asami, and even attempts to have Akihito killed to get him out of the way. Then when Sudou realizes that he has no chances whatsoever whether or not he gets to kill Akihito, he then wants Asami dead as well.

Sakazaki

• Depraved Homosexual: Has shades of this considering just about every interaction he has with Akihito involves Sakazaki molesting the young man, and Sakazaki ultimately coerces a blowjob out of Akihito for information that he could have easily given to Akihito.
• Fool for Love: Essentially throws away his lucrative underworld career siding with Chernobog just to help and save Sudou. He then later defies Chernobog to try and save this same man.
• Inelegant Blubbering: When Fei Long and Mikhail capture him during Innocent Eyes, Sakazaki is so happy that they are not Chernobog that he engages in this, much to the bafflement of the other two men.
• Love Makes You Dumb: In Pray in the Abyss Sakazaki is very much aware that it would be a bad idea to have any involvement in the conflict involving Chernobog, but gets himself involved so he can help Sudou.
  • Ends up running afoul of Chernobog when he tries to save Sudou from them.
• Oh, Crap!: Briefly has this the first time he meets Akihito, and realizes who Akihito is. It doesn’t last.
• Riches to Rags: The Innocent Eyes arc reveals that he has lost everything and has been left globetrotting in a desperate attempt to escape Chernobog.
• Thrill Seeker: Part of why Sakazaki repeatedly harasses Akihito is because sees it as a way of getting to Asami without directly challenging him.

Russia

Mikhail Arbatov

The young leader of the Russian mafia.

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• Achilles' Heel: Mikhail’s feeling for Fei Long becomes this during the Pray in the Abyss arc. Having openly expressed his desires for Fei Long previously to make Yuri uncomfortable, the latter is able to force Mikhail into surrendering to capture and torture in Pray in the Abyss by threatening Fei Long’s safety.
• Bastard Bastard: He is the son of a mafiya boss and his mistress.
• Covered with Scars: He has some pretty vicious scars on his back, and in the Naked Truth arc he nonchalantly hints that he received them as a result of horrendous abuse. The Pray in the Abyss arc confirms that this is indeed the case.
• Dark and Troubled Past: As a child, Mikhail suffered from abuse by his uncle Yuri, who also gave him the scars on his back by whipping him as a means of punishment.
• Deadpan Snarker: Most of his remarks carry a nonchalant and sardonic tone to them.
  Asami: (coldly) Are you trying to piss me off?
  Mikhail: I think you are already. So scary!
• Dissonant Serenity: He has very little reaction to witnessing Fei Long getting his casino deed back or his cohort Yuri getting repeatedly shot over the side of the boat, other than to muse at how "boring" it turned out to be. All this, even though he'd just lost out on a lucrative business investment and one of his own men may or may not have been murdered; although the Pray in the Abyss arc reveals why Mikhail wasn't so bothered at Yuri getting shot.
• Fool for Love: Arguably his actions in Pray in the Abyss boil down to this. Mikhail gets himself involved in the war against Chernobog (a very dangerous anti-government organization), then voluntarily surrenders himself to this same organization and submits to torture by Yuri, who abused him when he was a child. The final point reawakening his childhood trauma. He does all of this because Fei Long asked for his help, and the latter two points because Fei Long’s life was in danger.
• For the Evulz: Mikhail gives no reason in getting involved in the casino deed debacle other than because it was amusing. And also because Fei Long was involved.
• Hidden Depths: Upon his first introduction Mikhail comes off as a calculating and carefree playboy who stirs the pot of drama with multiple people for no other reason than his own amusement. He also openly teases an attraction to Fei Long for seemingly no other reason than to make Yuri uncomfortable and to try and get under Fei Long’s skin. But beneath the facade is a man carrying scars (both physical and emotional) from a lifetime of abuse, and his “teasing” of Fei Long is strongly implied to be genuine feelings of love.
• I Gave My Word: Mikhail may be flippant and is eager to take part in anything that's bound to amuse him, but he does uphold his word of helping Fei Long eradicate Chernobog after the latter kept his end of the bargain.
• It's Personal: Mikhail agreed to help Fei Long with Chernobog only because the latter asked and paid quite the price for it, but Mikhail becomes wholeheartedly involved in the conflict as well when he learns that his own uncle has joined the organization.
• A Lady on Each Arm: This is how he first shows up in the Naked Truth arc, and he's seen with women in this manner when Fei Long meets up with him in the Pray in the Abyss arc.
• Language Barrier: He can speak Russian and English, but he doesn't know how to speak Japanese, as shown in his confused reaction when Akihito asks who he is in said language.
• Light Is Not Good: He has blonde hair and blue eyes, and wears white suits or bright colors, and while he's not a villain, he's not someone who can be called a nice guy.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: Mikhail plays the irresponsible playboy, but he is still the head of the Russian mafia and he does outplay Fei Long in some instances all while acting like a fool. He is no slouch in combat either; being an excellent shot as well as very proficient with a knife.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
  • When he walks in on Yuri verbally and physically abusing Akihito, he drops his sadistically carefree attitude and coldly admonishes his cohort for abusing their hostage. Though the revelations in Pray in the Abyss about Mikhail’s abusive past with Yuri explains his anger over witnessing Yuri abuse Akihito.
  • He normally acts casual about most things, though he becomes dead serious and is filled to the brim with rage and killing intent when he confronts Yuri in the Pray in the Abyss arc.
• Sad Clown: He has a very carefree and fun-loving exterior, but this seems to be a mask. He even calls himself, Asami and Fei Long "warped men".
• Seme: To Fei Long.
• Sensual Slavs: He's Russian, his introduction has him surrounded by women, and he's very flirtatious (at least when it comes to Fei Long).
• Sex for Solace: With Fei Long, who is likewise haunted by some trauma and is looking for Intimate Psychotherapy.
• Troll: Mikhail messes up Asami's and Fei Long's dealings and businesses on a regular basis for the profit, for Fei Long's attention, but also very much for the fun of it.
• Troubled Backstory Flashback: Those nasty scars on his back? The Pray in the Abyss arc reveals that he got those from his uncle, who would flog him every time he felt that Mikhail was misbehaving.
• Used to Be a Sweet Kid: In his childhood, Mikhail was an innocent angel; and it becomes apparent that his uncle's abuse did quite the number on him both physically and mentally.
• Villain in a White Suit: Mikhail is more of a Wild Card than a straight-up villain; though the Pray in the Abyss arc shows him dressed in a white suit when he meets up with Sudou.

Yuri Arbatov (Warning: Unmarked Spoilers)

The uncle of Mikhail Arbatov and a member of his mafiya group.

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• Back for the Dead: Yuri shows up again in the Pray in the Abyss arc after he was thought to have died during the debacle at the casino ship, although he's finished off in the climax after Mikhail shoots a bullet right through the older man's skull.
• Boom, Headshot!: His ultimate fate, well-earned by Mikhail’s hand.
• Casual Kink: According to the mangaka, Yuri has a thing for tying people up in bondage, which explains the difference between how Fei Long and Mikhail were restrained when they were captured by Chernobog.
• Creepy Uncle: Although he doesn't seem to be anything close to one in the Naked Truth arc, the Pray in the Abyss arc reveals himself to be this deep down to Mikhail, especially since he's the one responsible for the scars on Mikhail's back. Mikhail speculates that this is Yuri's attempt to redirect his incestuous desires for him by expressing it through violence.
• Dirty Old Man: In the Naked Truth arc, it becomes obvious that Yuri has certain thoughts about Akihito, who picks up on said thoughts and calls him a sick bastard for it. However, Yuri tries to suppress his urges by physically lashing out at the younger man, and he's revealed to have done something similar to Mikhail when the latter was a child as a means of suppressing his less-than-familial urges.
• Ephebophile: It’s implied that his physical attraction to Akihito is primarily because of his attractive youthful looks and his abuse of Mikhail when the latter was a child is outright stated to be because of this. Mikhail goes as far as to call Yuri a child molester in the Pray in the Abyss arc.
• Eyepatch of Power: When Yuri shows up again in the Pray in the Abyss arc, he has an eyepatch over his left eye.
• Face Death with Dignity: He is hardly shook by anybody pointing a gun at him, no matter how certainly they want to kill him.
• Has a Type: It's hinted that he likes them young, like Akihito and Mikhail when the latter was a pre-teen.
• Love Makes You Crazy: He doesn't look the most sane when he tells Mikhail during their confrontation: "I am the one who loves you most."
• Never My Fault: Yuri is not oblivious to his desires and urges but he never takes responsibility for them, instead blaming others for “making him feel that way”. When Akihito calls Yuri out for groping him, Yuri responds with physical violence and screaming at Akihito for “tempting him”. Likewise, his abuse of Mikhail in the past was primarily the result of Yuri unable to cope with his attraction to him.
• Not Quite Dead: Almost everyone assumed that he was dead after Asami shot Yuri off the ship in the Naked Truth arc. As it turns out, however, he's very much alive and has joined forces with Chernobog. However, the gunshot wounds he received had cost him an eye.
• Omniglot: He can speak Russian and English, and he's the only one of Mikhail's group who can communicate with Akihito in the Naked Truth arc due to being able to speak Japanese as well.
• Only a Flesh Wound: During his confrontation with Mikhail, the latter stabs him in the arm, which doesn't bother Yuri much as he later starts dragging his nephew around with the same arm.
• Sadist: He takes a little too much enjoyment out of hurting others, particularly after he strangles Akihito, and the physical abuse he inflicted upon Mikhail when the latter was a child. This ends up biting him in the ass and leads to his death, as instead of outright killing Mikhail he decides to spare him to torture him more later - leading to Mikhail shooting him in the head when Fei Long arrives and saves Mikhail.
• Sharp-Dressed Man: Just in case the jumper, the coat, the gloves aren't enough indication...

Hong Kong

Tao

An orphan taken under the protection of Fei Long and serving as his attendant.

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• Children Are Innocent: Despite being technically a member of Baishe, Tao is still young and not fully aware of the shadier dealings that go on in Fei Long's organization.
• Fear of Thunder: Tao is very afraid of lightning, although this is common for someone of his age.
• Omniglot: The character stats reveal that Tao is fluent in both Cantonese and the Beijing dialect of Mandarin Chinese, and is also able to speak Japanese to an extent. Not bad for someone who hasn't reached his teenage years yet.
• Long-Lost Relative: Finder no Rakuin reveals that Tao is the son of Fei Long's "brother", Yan Tsui.
• Secret Legacy: It's revealed in Finder no Rakuin that Tao is the biological son of Liu Yan Tsui and thus the rightful heir to Baishe, as Fei Long is only adopted.
• Sins of Our Fathers: Averted. Even though he's Yan Tsui's son, Fei Long doesn't hold Tao in contempt for what the boy's father did to him.
• Wise Beyond Their Years: Tao has moments where he shows good acumen one wouldn't expect from someone of his age, especially when he takes it upon himself to organize Baishe's search for Fei Long when the latter gets captured.

Yoh

A member of Baishe. In truth, however, he was sent by Asami to spy on Fei Long in prison and keep an eye on him. Loyal to his first boss and in love with his second boss, he nearly loses his life in all of it and ultimately comes back to Fei Long as something akin to a friend.

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• The Bus Came Back: In a way. In the manga, Yoh disappears after Volume 5... only to show up again in Volume 9, which shows him and Fei Long on friendly terms despite their last interaction having Fei Long learn that Yoh is a Double Agent. However, Finder no Rakuin ^note  which has not yet been officially translated to English does reveal what happened to Yoh after the events of the Naked Truth arc.
• Face Death with Dignity: After being caught as a mole, he escapes the mooks interrogating him and helps ensure that Akihito is safely returned to Asami. Then he walks straight up to Fei Long and tries to be killed on his own terms.
• Last Request: Yoh just wishes for Fei Long to be the one to kill him.
• The Mole: At least until he decides he wants to serve both sides at once and becomes the Double Agent.
• Omniglot: Yoh can communicate in Japanese and English just fine, and Finder no Rakuin reveals that he's also fluent in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
• Sex for Solace: With Fei Long.
• Smoking Is Cool: There are a few times where Yoh is seen taking a drag, which adds to his stoic persona.
• The Stoic: He's never shown emoting much, even in the direst of circumstances.
• Subordinate Excuse: Asami offers to pull Yoh to safety, but he would literally rather die than leave Fei Long — and yes, it is for that reason.

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