History Literature / AiNoKusabi

%%* DirtyMindReading: In the novel, Iason exposes a HomoeroticDream of [[spoiler:Kirie to reveal how the boy really feels toward Riki as means to further manipulate Riki.]]

%%* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: Guy, a normal human VS Iason, a BioAugmented artificial superhuman.]] Guess who won.

''Ai no Kusabi'' is a Japanese novel written by Rieko Yoshihara. Originally serialized in the yaoi magazine ''Shousetsu June'' between December 1986 and October 1987, the story was collected into a hardbound novel that was released in Japan in 1990.

%%* {{Bishonen}}: Everyone but a few minor characters.

%%* ADateWithRosiePalms: One of a Pet's "performances" for his or her master. Riki initially refuses to.

%%* DeathBySex: [[spoiler: Iason]] was forbidden to actually sleep with [[spoiler: Riki]]. There was no way it would end well.

%%* BareYourMidriff: Riki's [[GoGoEnslavement Pet outfit.]]

%%* TwistEnding: The novel and [=OVA=]'s ending is a twist because it concludes differently than one would expect. The story is [[ItWasHisSled well known because of this twist]] by people whom haven't even read or seen it as a result.

%%* DarkSkinnedBlonde: Miguel and Zack.

%%* CryCute: Both [[spoiler:Raoul and Katze]], until then stoic guys (mostly in [[spoiler:Katze's]] case), break down in tears when they learn about [[spoiler:Riki and Iason's]] deaths.

* NotSoStoic: In the novel and 1994 OVA, both [[spoiler:Raoul and Katze]] shed their stoic facades and [[spoiler:Katze]] [[CryCute cries cute]], breaking down in tears when they learn about [[spoiler: Iason and Riki's deaths.]] Also all furniture that meet Riki have trouble keeping their composure.

%%* BadassBiker: Riki was this until [[TrainingFromHell stuff]] [[BreakTheHaughty happened]] as [[BastardBoyfriend Iason's]] [[SexSlave Pet]]. He still managed to show his riding skills hadn't dulled upon his return to the Bisons.

%%* BastardBoyfriend: Iason but Guy also counts to a much lesser extent.

%%* BadassBiker: Riki was this until [[TrainingFromHell stuff]] [[BreakTheHaughty happened]] as [[BastardBoyfriend Iason's]] [[SexSlave Pet]]. He still managed to show his riding skills hadn't dulled upon his return to the Bisons in spite of his BadassDecay.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Elites of Tanagura come in a variety of HairColors and they are ranked by it. There are Onyx (black-haired), Rubies (redheads), Jades (green-haired, Sapphires (blue-haired), Platinas (silver-haired) and of course the top class are Blondies. None of which is an ImplausibleHairColor because they are all [[LegoGenetics genetically engineered]].

%%* {{Asexuality}}: Every single Elite with the notable exception of Iason Mink.

Iason Mink, a high-class Blondy, runs into Riki, an unusual black-haired Mongrel, makes him his "Pet" which Riki resents being. As Riki learns of the dangers Iason faces by keeping him, he finds himself developing feelings for his master. Focusing on the relationship between Iason and Riki, Ai no Kusabi also explores [[FantasticAesop issues of caste systems and social exclusion]].

%%* CrazyAwesome: Iason. Invoked by the other Blondies.

%%* BiTheWay: Despite not reciprocating Mimea's feelings and being in love with Guy, Riki is attracted to women and masturbates to the female form. Something which even triggers Iason's jealous anger.

%%* ConspicuousCG: Parts of Eos, Jupiter and Iason's car are a few examples in the 2012 OVA.

* AIIsACrapshoot[=/=]GoneHorriblyRight: The novel explains Jupiter's origins to power as having been this when it [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters turned on its human creators.]]

* AllBikersAreHellsAngels: The Bisons since they're more [[JapaneseDelinquents Delinquents]] than anything.

* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Guy]] loses an arm and [[spoiler:Iason]] loses both of his legs.

** DeusAngstMachina: The culmination of everything above and what happens towards the end.

* AnOfferYouCantRefuse[=/=]{{Blackmail}}: See Sexual Extortion Below
* AntiHero: Riki and to some extent, Guy.
* AntiVillain[=/=]VillainProtagonist: Iason.
* ArtificialHuman: The Elites and some manufactured Pets.
* {{Asexuality}}: Every single Elite with the notable exception of Iason Mink.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Despite the [[TheMasochismTango nature of their relationship]] and [[spoiler:Riki]]'s hostility, there are no doubts at the end that [[spoiler:Iason and Riki]] are in love with one another.
* BadassBiker: Riki was this until [[TrainingFromHell stuff]] [[BreakTheHaughty happened]] as [[BastardBoyfriend Iason's]] [[SexSlave Pet]]. He still managed to show his riding skills hadn't dulled upon his return to the Bisons in spite of his BadassDecay.
* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler: Remember Iason is the villain categorized by his actions of kidnapping, raping and holding Riki against his will for the majority of the story. In the end, Iason gets exactly what he wanted.]]
* BareYourMidriff: Riki's [[GoGoEnslavement Pet outfit.]]
* BastardBoyfriend: Iason but Guy also counts to a much lesser extent.
* BatmanGambit[=/=]FlawExploitation: This is how Iason manipulated and took down the Bison gang [[spoiler:using Kirie's ambitions]]. If only Riki had taken Katze's advice to skip town.
** Miguel, the Paradita Pet, also pulls an astonishing one.
* TheBeautifulElite: Elites but especially the Blondies.

* BeYourself: An ongoing theme with Riki who wanted nothing but to remain being himself.
* BigDamnHero: In the novel for Kirie when he returns. In the 1990s OVA series, upon Riki's return, he saves the entire Bison gang from a squad of police single-handedly with a...
** BigEntrance: Using a...
** [[CarFu Bike Fu]]: Stunt against the police squad cars and then resorting to GoodOldFisticuffs.
* BiggerIsBetterInBed: Covered only in the novel, Riki had trouble going to the bathroom for 3 days after the first time Iason has intercourse with him when he had been a Pet for 6 months. [[spoiler:Iason also has the ability to make his member even larger at will and has terrified Riki with it.]]
* {{Bishonen}}: Everyone but a few minor characters.
** CastFullOfPrettyBoys: Natural birth rate is only 1 girl for every 10 boys born so....
** LongHairedPrettyBoy: Iason, many of the Elites in general and Guy.
* BiTheWay: Despite not reciprocating Mimea's feelings and being in love with Guy, Riki is attracted to women and masturbates to the female form. Something which even triggers Iason's jealous anger.
* BittersweetEnding[=/=]DownerEnding: Depending on the viewer since [[spoiler:Riki and Iason]] find happiness and solace in each others' arms despite [[spoiler:dying]].
* BlackMarket: The people of the Ceres slums largely survive by relying on goods from the Black Market. Unbeknownst to them save a key few, it is actually run by [[spoiler:Iason]].

* {{Brainwash}}: Apparently common practice in Tanagura. Iason threatens to do this to Guy and turn him into a [[EmptyShell docile sex doll]]. Raoul pleads to Iason to dump his Pet since he refuses to have to resort to do this to Iason. In the novel, Riki suggests this be done mercifully to [[spoiler:Guy so he has no memories of his awful actions]]. Lastly, this is done to [[spoiler:Kirie to teach him "the ways of Tanagura" and turn him into a mindless and submissive Pet]].
* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: [[spoiler: Riki attempted this on Guy since Iason had threatened Guy.]] [[PoorCommunicationKills It failed in the worst possible way.]]
* BreakTheCutie: Riki over the course of the story. Iason did [[DoubleEntendre a bang up job]] [[BreakTheHaughty breaking him]]. Katze [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] Riki's state after finding him near the end.
* BreakTheHaughty: It took Iason 3 years to "tame" Riki.
* BringMyBrownPants: Luke in the first OVA series.
* BrokenBird: Riki was this after he returned back to Ceres. Others noted how subdued and quiet he had become having lost his spark and charisma.

* TheCaretaker: Daryl was this to Riki and risked everything so Riki would remain [[BeYourself being himself]].
* CastFullOfGay: Justified here in a case of SituationalSexuality, as there are so few females that the men have to find other outlets.
* CasualKink: This is what Iason believes he's doing with Riki through use of the Pet Ring. Riki doesn't agree.
* CensorShadow: The [=OVA=]s.
* CharacterDevelopment[=/=]DynamicCharacter: ''Ai no Kusabi'' is a character driven story about how people change for the better or worse. Sometimes these changes can't be accepted by the person experiencing them.
* ChainsOfLove: Various official artwork depict Riki bound in chains to Iason or surrounded by them.
* TheChessmaster: Iason to a scary degree.
* ChildhoodFriendRomance: Riki and Guy, who also was TheLancer to Riki's AntiHero when they were [[JapaneseDelinquents gangsters]].

* CockFight: Iason and Guy over Riki. Briefly but still...
* CoolCar[=/=]FlyingCar: Particularly Iason's car in the 2012 OVA.
* CoolPeopleRebelAgainstAuthority: Riki is famous in Ceres for this and proud of it.
* CoolShades: Iason's pair. Riki and Guy also wear shades for riding. In the 1990s OVA Riki wears shades during a heist and Luke has his on 24/7.
** SunglassesAtNight: Luke in the 1990s [=OVA=]s.
* ConspicuousCG: Parts of Eos, Jupiter and Iason's car are a few examples in the 2012 OVA.
* CrackPairing: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by ''everyone'' that see [[OfficialCouple Iason and Riki together]]. A Blondy and a mongrel just walking down the street together in Midas is quite an unfathomable spectacle that stops onlookers in their tracks. Riki and Mimea also to a lesser extent.
* CrapsackWorld: Amoi is definitely this for many humans where one can be equated to ''furniture''.
** {{Dystopia}}: And how!
** DystopianEdict: NoSexAllowed which is where the problems start.
* CrazyAwesome: Iason. Invoked by the other Blondies.
* CrazyJealousGuy: Iason flies into fits of rage every time Riki even looks at someone else, but Guy actually takes it UpToEleven.
** GreenEyedMonster
* CryCute: Both [[spoiler:Raoul and Katze]], until then stoic guys (mostly in [[spoiler:Katze's]] case), break down in tears when they learn about [[spoiler:Riki and Iason's]] deaths.
* CrystalSpiresAndTogas: Tanagura very much so in the 2012 OVA with the Elites wearing long robes and capes.
* CulturalRebel: Iason became this when he stopped caring about Tanagura laws for the sake of keeping Riki.
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: Guy, a normal human VS Iason, a BioAugmented artificial superhuman.]] Guess who won.
* CuriosityIsACrapshoot[=/=]CuriosityKilledTheCast: A few examples. Two being non-lethal. Katze hacking classified files on Tanagura, Daryl wanting to see if Riki would escape Eos, Kirie and Manon snooping around Guardian, and last but not least, [[spoiler:Riki and Iason both being so curious of each other that Riki offers sex and Iason actually accepts well knowing it's not allowed.]] This act sets off the plot [[spoiler:and their eventual deaths.]]

* DarkSkinnedBlonde: Miguel and Zack.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: One of a Pet's "performances" for his or her master. Riki initially refuses to.
* DeadpanSnarker[=/=]GentlemanSnarker: Iason.
* DeathBySex: [[spoiler: Iason]] was forbidden to actually sleep with [[spoiler: Riki]]. There was no way it would end well.
* DefiledForever: Riki states this as a reason to Guy that they can never go back to how things were before. Raoul looks at his Pet, Mimea, this way after she slept with Riki.
* DefrostingIceKing: Sums up Iason's CharacterDevelopment in a nutshell.
* DesignerBabies: How the top class of Pets are bred at the Academy, Raoul's research and work.
* {{Determinator}}: The driving force of Iason being a ManipulativeBastard was his determination to make Riki love him.
* DirtyMindReading: In the novel, Iason exposes a HomoeroticDream of [[spoiler:Kirie to reveal how the boy really feels toward Riki as means to further manipulate Riki.]]
* DramaticWind: Each depiction of Iason setting Riki free and watching him run back to Ceres has this.

* DudeMagnet[=/=][[CluelessChickMagnet Clueless Dude Magnet]]: The novel explains that [[CastFullOfGay a lot of men out there]] want Riki. [[EvenTheGuysWantHim Even the guys of his gang]] and Riki isn't aware of his natural stoic charm and charisma attracting them all.
* [[spoiler: DyingAlone]]: [[DefiedTrope Defied]] in the TwistEnding.
* [[DyingDeclarationOfLove Dying Demonstration of Love]][=/=]DyingMomentOfAwesome: After finally acknowledging how much he loves [[spoiler:Iason]], [[spoiler:Riki]] in a selfless act refuses to let [[spoiler:Iason]] face death alone and [[spoiler:returns to be with him at the end]].
* EarnYourTitle: Riki The Dark
* EatingTheEyeCandy: Riki gets this a lot and not just by Iason.
* EmotionsVsStoicism: Explored with Tanagura's social structure and Iason and Riki's relationship.
* EmptyShell: End result of people forcibly {{Brainwashed}} to be Pets. Iason threatens to turn Guy into one and actually does so to [[spoiler: Kirie]].
* EntitledToHaveYou: Iason feels he's entitled to have Riki.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Iason]]
* {{Fanservice}}: Seems to be the point of the [=OVA=]s' and CD Dramas' existence.
** MrFanservice: Iason but Riki really defines this trope being scantily clad or nude often.

* FantasticGhetto: Ceres, a slum where the majority of "mongrels" live.

* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler:Kirie]]'s comeuppance and [[spoiler:Guy]] having to live the rest of his life knowing he got [[spoiler:Riki]] killed. [[spoiler:Katze]] believes that [[spoiler:Guy]] deserves to live like this.
* FetishFuelFuture: And how!

* ForcefulKiss[=/=]ShutUpKiss: Iason's favorite method to calm Riki down when the Pet Ring doesn't. On a few occasions it's just to shut Riki up.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:Raoul says to Iason "Your vices will be the end of you."]]
* FriendInTheBlackMarket: Katze is literally this for Iason and Katze uses his position very effectively to trap the Bisons and later to give Riki a job.

* GildedCage: Riki views Iason's home in Eos as this. It is lavish but still a prison for him. The condo Iason gets him in Apatia is a big improvement yet still a cage.
* GoGoEnslavement: The outfits worn by Pets are certainly revealing.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Manon. Kirie who was present with him almost goes through this.
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Iason]], who died truly happy when his feelings were reciprocated.

* TheGruntingOrgasm and TheModestOrgasm: As a graceful hair flip.
* HairContrastDuo: Iason (blond hair) and Riki (black hair).
* HappinessInSlavery: Daryl in the novel and CD Dramas. Subverted harshly with Riki [[spoiler:at the end due to the tragic ending.]]
* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler:Kirie]] in the novel.
* HeldGaze: [[spoiler:Riki and Iason]] during their final moments.

* [[spoiler:[[TheHeroDies The Anti-Hero Dies]]]]
* HostageSituation: Happens to Guy and this is his interpretation of Iason keeping Riki.
* HotBlooded: Riki once was but life as a Pet calmed him down substantially. Kirie is a hot head as well.
* {{Hologram}}: The 2012 OVA has them to depict every screen a character is watching. Even Riki and Mimea's "date by screen" happens via a holographic image of her.
* {{Hypocrite}}/HypocrisyNod: Raoul more or less accuses Iason of hypocrisy for being the Blondy aggressively enforcing law and order in Tanagura yet also breaking laws for his Pet. Iason doesn't deny it as means to end the topic.

* IfICantHaveYou: Guy to Riki.
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Iason says this to Riki (more or less) when the mongrel walks into a trap set by him about a year after their first meeting. At that time Iason grabs Riki close, declares this and kidnaps Riki to make him his Pet.

* [[IllKillYou I'll Kill You!]]: Iason to Guy.

* IndirectKiss: Towards the end....

* [[ItsNotYouItsMe It's Not You, It's That I'm Iason's Pet]]: Riki to Guy.

* KnowledgeBroker: Katze has all kinds of useful information serving as an informer for Iason. Robby, an info dealer Riki visits and Zico, another info broker that Guy visits.

* LegoGenetics: All over the place. Particularly how top class Pets are bred and [[spoiler:Elites are created.]]
** BioAugmentation: Elites [[spoiler: More specifically their brains which is the only truly human component they have left.]]
* LightIsNotGood: All the Blondies in general that have a penchant to wear white.
* LimaSyndrome[=/=]StockholmSyndrome: Iason and Riki, respectively.

* LoveDodecahedron: And at the center is Riki and his UnwantedHarem.
* LoveHurts: Does it ever.
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: With tragic results.
* LoveMartyr: [[spoiler:Riki]] submits to his feelings for [[spoiler:Iason]] despite his harsh [[spoiler:treatment as a pet choosing to return to Iason and ''die'' with him.]]
* LoveRedeems: [[spoiler:Iason]]. Most likely the moral of this whole story.
* LuredIntoATrap: Riki, when Iason took him to be a pet and [[spoiler:Iason]] late in the story.
* LustObject: Boy, was Riki this for Iason before the latter fell in love with him.
* [[MadeASlave Made A Sex Slave]]: Riki as a pet, yeah.

* ManipulativeBastard: The lengths in which Iason goes through to keep Riki truly make him a MagnificentBastard.
* ManlyTears: Guy in the OVA.
* TheMasochismTango: Iason. Riki. FULL STOP!
* MasterComputer: Jupiter is this.
* AMatchMadeInStockholm: Riki and Iason.
* MechanicalEvolution: How Elites evolved from RidiculouslyHumanRobots into the ArtificialHumans they are now.
* MentalPictureProjector: In the novel, Iason uses one of these to reveal what Kirie really thinks about Riki.
* MiseryBuildsCharacter: Life as a Pet made Riki subdued, humble and mature. He still remained proud as ever though.
* MrExposition: Katze is used as this in the first OVA series often explaining what's going on to Riki (and the audience).
* ModestyBedsheet: In the [=OVA=]s. The illustrations in the novels are a bit more explicit yet censored.
* MoralMyopia: Where to begin with how the Elites exploit and use the people of Ceres whether it be as Furniture or Pets? Nobody in their society seem to think it's wrong and nobody else speaks against it because they are so powerful and the BlackMarket sales of Pets are very lucrative. Then there's the fact the system and usage of Pets and Furniture as disposable slaves exists in the first place...
* MoreThanMindControl: Iason did his best to manipulate and condition the ever stubborn Riki into relying on him for help and support as a way for Riki to submit to becoming a pet [[spoiler:of Riki's own free will]].
* MurderByMistake: [[spoiler:Guy]] succeeds in murdering [[spoiler:Iason]] but indirectly gets [[spoiler:Riki]] killed too.
* MurderTheHypotenuse: [[spoiler: What Guy was going for.]]
* NoodleIncident; Whatever happened in Guardian between Riki and Robby/Lavi over someone named Schell/Cher.
* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: Understandable with Iason since he believes he's entitled to Riki's body but even Guy doesn't give Riki much space.
* NoSexAllowed: All Elites are to abide by this and breaking it is serious taboo. Not that Iason cares.....
* NotGoodWithRejection: Iason, Guy, Robby, Kirie and Miguel The Paradita. None handled rejection by Riki well.
* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Riki says this to Guy as another reason they can't go back to how it was before.

* OddCouple: Iason and Riki.
* OfficialCouple: Iason and Riki despite TheMasochismTango.

* OhCrap: Riki's expression when the blast doors of Dana Burn start to come down.
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: Iason, the top ruling Blondy, kidnapped Riki and basically humiliated, tortured and raped him for 3 years. Iason's actions are never looked at as evil nor just plain wrong. It's just the way things are in Tanagura and the right of the ruling class. This also counts for the other Elites that keep Pets and Furniture.
* OneHeadTaller: Iason is a little more than one head taller than Riki.

* OppositesAttract: The underlying story of this MasochismTango. Lampshaded by Katze in a line that also serves as a TitleDrop.
* OverTheShoulderCarry: In the OVA and the revised edition of the novel, Iason carries Guy like this. In the original novel it was Riki that carries Guy by himself while still in pain.
* APartyAlsoKnownAsAnOrgy: For Pets, this is what Free Parties like the one Sir Kyle threw really are. Just a means for them to be ''displayed''. Iason refuses to take Riki to another after concluding that only he alone may touch Riki.
* PeopleJars: Common in a world where many people are the result of LegoGenetics.
* PoliceBrutality: The 'Darkmen' of the Midas Division of Public Safety. Mongrels fear them for a reason.
* PoorCommunicationKills: Literally.
* {{Pride}}[=/=]FatalFlaw: The major focal point of Riki's character. How he got into this mess, the effect being a pet has on his pride and how it prevents him from [[spoiler:acknowledging his true feelings.]] Iason also has issues regarding his Blondy pride in relation to his feelings for Riki.
* PropertyOfLove: What Iason ultimately wants for Riki to become ''willingly''.
* PsychoticLoveTriangle: Poor Riki is caught in the middle.
* QuestionableConsent: Much of the time Riki gives into Iason is because he's not given any other choice. It's not like Riki could tell Iason "No!" and fight him off.

* RapeAsBackstory: Inverted with Riki. Aside from the prologue where we aren't told who the man and slave are, when we are properly introduced to Riki, he's depicted as an apathetic drug addict whose behavior worries his friends. Then in the second volume are we shown via flashback what happened as a Pet to make him that way.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Iason.]]
* RedLightDistrict: The city of Midas is more or a less a large version of this where a lot of discarded Pets end up in brothels and peep shows.
* RedOniBlueOni: Riki and Iason at the beginning respectively. Also Riki and Guy when they were active in Bison.
* RelationshipSabotage: Guy believes Iason essentially did this, ending his and Riki's relationship when Iason stole Riki away. Guy looked to even the score. Iason also puts the breaks on Riki and Mimea.
* ReleasedToElsewhere: Played with Riki but played straight with [[spoiler:Daryl]].

* RestrainingBolt[=/=]ShockCollar: Riki's Pet Ring works as this when Iason uses it to inflict pain on Riki when he won't behave himself or as a twisted form of foreplay.
* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: What happened to [[spoiler:Kirie.]]

* RightThroughHisPants: Iason can't keep his hands off of Riki even when clothed.
* RomanticizedAbuse: The whole point of Iason's use of Riki's Pet Ring when it's not being used exclusively as a RestrainingBolt to force Riki to obey. Also worth noting that Iason is the '''only''' Elite ever to use it that way and as a cock ring.
* SatisfiedStreetRat: Subverted. Riki acts like one and everyone believes he is save for Guy and Iason.
* SayMyName: In the first OVA when police ambush the Bisons. "Riki!", "Guy!", "Riki!", "GUUUUYYYY!!!"
* ScarsAreForever: Katze.

* SexForServices[=/=]WorkOffTheDebt: How it all started when Riki insisted after he was saved (1992 OVA) by Iason. It was to keep Iason's silence that Riki does this in the novels.
* SexGod: Iason so much InUniverse that Riki can't bring himself to sleep with anyone else afterwards, afraid nobody could ever compare.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: A variation of this trope with Iason coming to terms with the fact he enjoys sex which is forbidden.
* SexSlave: All of the Pets but Riki in particular.
* SexualExtortion: Iason threatens to tamper with Guy's mind and freedom unless Riki agrees to return to him.

* ShowerOfAngst: Riki.
* SickAndWrong: The reaction of every single Elite in Tanagura to Iason shamelessly giving Riki water to drink via mouth to mouth. Also Riki's thoughts on people with tastes for young Pets.
* SingleTargetSexuality: Guy and especially Iason for Riki.

* SlaveCollar: Every Pet has one. They can be removed if a master wishes so.
* SlaveRace: Genetically manufactured Pets.
* SlidingScaleOfGenderInequality: Women are rare.
* SlidingScaleOfUnavoidableVersusUnforgivable: Presented and touched upon with Iason's overall actions towards Riki and Guy's WellIntentionedExtremist actions towards the end.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: Daryl and Mimea.
* SmokingIsCool: Riki, members of Bison but particularly Katze.
* SmugSmiler: Guy. He doesn't remain smug for long....
* SmugSnake: Kirie. He doesn't remain smug for long....
* SoftSpokenSadist: Iason.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Several cases but stand outs are Kiri/Kirie/Kyrie, Robby/Lavi, Schell/Cher, Guy/Gai and Kyaru/Cal.
* StalkerWithACrush: Both Guy and Iason. Iason even shows up at Riki's place unannounced.
* StarCrossedLovers: [[spoiler:Iason and Riki.]]
* StraightGay: Pretty much everyone in the main cast.
* StrangerInAFamiliarLand: Riki when he gets back to Ceres and exactly what Iason predicted he would become.
* StrawVulcan: Played with here. Iason acting irrationally out of love for Riki results in showing the logic-bound Elites serious flaws about what they consider to be ''common sense''.
* StreetUrchin: Most mongrels that never became Furniture are or were this.
* TheStoic: The upper echelons of Tanagura all behave like this although certain circumstances create ''[[NotSoStoic exceptions]]''. Furniture are also expected to be stoic as part of their duty. Riki makes it hard for both Daryl and Cal.

* TakingYouWithMe: Guy tries this.

* TalkToTheFist: During the extremely brief CockFight.
* TechnologyPorn: The 2012 OAV showcases much of the technology in Eos. Usually via elaborate CGI.
* TenderTears and TearsOfRemorse: [[spoiler:Riki]] tears up upon seeing [[spoiler:Iason]]'s mutilated legs and having to leave him behind to die.

* TimeSkip: A couple. About a year goes by between Iason and Riki's first meeting and when Iason kidnaps him from Mistral Park. About another 2 years go by between when Riki beds Mimea and is temporarily set free to return to the slums.
* TitleDrop: Katze does the honor here as a metaphor to describe Riki and Iason's relationship.
* TogetherInDeath: [[spoiler:Riki and Iason]] at the end.

* {{Tragedy}}
* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness: Because a certain someone didn't think things through.
* TrainingFromHell: Iason's ''taming'' of Riki to make him a suitable Pet.
* TroubledButCute: Thy name is Riki.
* {{Tsundere}}: Riki is a ''very'' brutal one towards Iason.
* TwistEnding: The novel and [=OVA=]'s ending is a twist because it concludes differently than one would expect. The story is [[ItWasHisSled well known because of this twist]] by people whom haven't even read or seen it as a result.

* UnwantedRescue: [[spoiler:Riki does not want to be rescued from Iason when Guy comes to save him.]]

* VideoPhone: Surprisingly, rarely used by Iason whose office has wireless phones in the first OVA series.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Guy is a lesser example but still went to extreme measures to free Riki of Iason. First he drugged Riki and [[spoiler:cut off his penis against his will to remove the Pet Ring]] and then set off to kill Iason. He [[spoiler:succeeded]] but [[spoiler:also lost Riki as a result]].
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Iason's thoughts and initial concern about his feelings for Riki.
* WhatMeasureIsAHumanoid: Lightly brought up with Iason's issues an ArtificialHuman Elite that engages in a physical relationship with a human being.

* WrongSideOfTheTracks: Riki isn't just any Pet. He's a ''mongrel'' from Ceres.
* XanatosGambit: Iason sends Riki back to Ceres to save his life from being executed in Eos. It gives him time to sort out his feelings for Riki, give Riki time to see how he no longer belongs in the slums and get intel on Riki's life in general as a mongrel to later manipulate him. This also yielded an...
** UnintentionalBackupPlan to get Riki back when he discovers Riki is actually sex starved from abstaining for more than a year.
* XanatosSpeedChess: Iason navigating through Blondy politics and schemes to keep Riki.
* {{Yandere}}: ''Both'' Iason and Guy are this towards Riki. [[PsychoticLoveTriangle It Gets Worse]].
* [[YankTheDogsChain Yank the Mongrel's Chain]]: Iason does this to Riki after returning to claim Riki back as his Pet. Riki is shocked to learn that he had never really been freed and was only given a breather from Eos for a year. Iason also has literally done this to Riki with his SlaveCollar.
* YaoiGenre: One of the first to be adapted into an anime.

* PettingZooPeople: The genetically engineered Chimera Pets being sold on the BlackMarket.

* SuperHumanTrafficking: [[DesignerBabies Designer Baby]] and [[PettingZooPeople chimera]] Pets are highly sought after prizes on the BlackMarket.

* YaoiGenre

* [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty I Have You Now And I Will Never Let You Go]]: Iason says this to Riki when the mongrel walks into a trap set by him about a year after their first meeting. At that time Iason grabs Riki close, declares this and kidnaps Riki to make him his Pet.

* LimaSyndrome ''and'' StockholmSyndrome: Iason and Riki, respectively.

[[quoteright:255:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AiNoKusabiCover4_7322.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:250:[[TroubledButCute Riki]] and [[TheBeautifulElite Iason]] on the 4th volume Tokuma Shoten edition cover.]]

* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler: Remember Iason is the villain categorized by his actions of kidnapping, raping and holding Riki against his will for the majority of the story. In the end, Iason gets exactly what we wanted.]]

* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler: Reemember Iason is the villain categroized by his actions of kidnapping, raping and holding Riki against his will for the majority of the story. In the end, Iason gets exactly what we wanted.]]

* [[spoiler: TheBadGuyWins]]: [[spoiler: Reemember Iason is the villain categroized by his actions of kidnapping, raping and holding Riki against his will for the majority of the story. In the end, Iason gets exactly what we wanted.]]

* FromBadToWorse: [[spoiler: Guy comes along and kidnaps Riki and does the unthinkable. Then when Riki has managed to keep Iason from killing Guy and it looks like they will all get out alive, the place starts collapsing on top of them. Guy survives but Iason and Riki do not.]]