History Literature / AiNoKusabi

* OneHeadTaller: Iason is slightly one head taller than Riki.

* DarkSkinnedBlonde: Miguel

[[caption-width-right:250:[[TroubledButCute Riki]] and [[PowerBlonde Iason]] on the 4th volume Tokuma Shoten edition cover.]]

The novel was partially adapted into a two-episode anime {{OVA}} by Anime International Company, the first episode released in August 1992, and the second in May 1994. In November 1993, an audio drama entitled ''Dark Erogenous'' was released focusing on a time period left unexplored in the original novels. A new anime OVA adaptation, also from AIC, was scheduled to begin releasing in Japan in 2009 but it was delayed due to financial problems. The first OVA of four announced for the remake titled ''Ai no Kusabi ~ petere Kanj ~'' was released on Jan 18, 2012. The second OVA ''~ pardo Setsuyoku ~'' was released on Feb 15, 2012 with volume 3: ''~ congressus Kaiko ~'' released on March 21st and the last announced volume 4: ''~ retino Inbaku~'' on April 18th.

* BigDamnHero: In the original OVA series, upon Riki's return, he saves the Bison gang from a squad of police single-handedly with a...

* 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. Iason also has the ability to make his member even larger and terrified Riki with it.

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

* BringMyBrownPants: Luke in the first OVA.

* ChainsOfLove: Various artwork (official and fanart) depict Riki bound in chains to Iason or surrounded by them.

* {{Modesty Bedsheet}}s: In the [=OVA=]s. The illustrations in the novels are a bit more explicit yet censored.

* FamilyUnfriendlyViolence: [[spoiler:Iason]] gets his legs ''cut off'' at the end. Cue the tragic ending.

* RescueRomance: Subverted: In the original OVA, Riki offers Iason RescueSex (Iason gives him a handjob) as a form of payment when he is first saved by Iason but there is nothing between them aside of curiosity and physical attraction (and a great deal of lust in the novel). [[spoiler: Towards the end, Riki accepts his feelings for Iason because the latter risked his life to save him and returns to Iason of his own volition. Sadly, they immediately died.]]

** HeKnowsTooMuch: In the novel, it's another reason [[spoiler:Kirie]] is dealt with.

* SlaveCollar: Iason put one on Riki like a leash for the mongrel during their first 3 years together and to tie him to a bed. Other Pets are also seen wearing them in both [=OVA=]s.

* MoreThanMindControl: Iason did his best to manipulated 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]].

* {{Batman Gambit}}/{{Flaw Exploitation}}: 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...

* 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.

* NoodleIncident; Whatever happened in Guardian between Riki and Robby over someone named Schell.

* NotGoodWithRejection: Both Iason and Guy.

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

* MismatchedEyes. Kirie in the [=OVA=]s..

* MoreThanMindControl: Iason did his best to manipulated 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 volition]].

* {{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.]]

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: The other Pets of Eos look down on Riki and treat him poorly for being a ''[[WrongSideOfTheTracks mongrel from Ceres]]''. Which is a little baffling since Riki is just as good looking as any of them. And the pets' biggest value is their looks, making supposed genetic superiority a moot point.

* 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.

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

* DarkSecret: Riki absolutely didn't want anyone to know he not only had an intimate encounter with a Blondy but also became that Blondy's Pet. [[spoiler:Darker yet is the fact he loves the Blondy.]]

* DudeMagnet: The novel explains that [[CastFullOfGay a lot of men out there]] want Riki. Even the guys of his gang.

* [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty I Have You Now And I will Never Let You Go]]: Iason says this to Riki verbatim when the mongrel walks into a trap set by him about 2 years after their first meeting. At that time Iason grabs Riki close, declares this and kidnaps Riki to make him his Pet.

* NotSoStoic: In the original OVA, both [[spoiler:Raoul and Berg Katze]] shred their stoic facades and [[CryCute break down in tears]] when they learn about [[spoiler: Iason and Riki's deaths.]]

* OhCrap: Riki's expression when the blast doors of Dana Bahn start to come down.

* TheStoic: The upper echelons of Tanagura all behave like this although certain circumstances create ''[[NotSoStoic exceptions]]''.

* KnowledgeBroker: Katze has all kinds of useful information and serves as an informer for Iason.

* TrackingDevice: All Pet rings have them built in. Riki is easily found after escaping from Eos because of it.

* DesignerBabies: How the top class of Pets are bred at the Academy, Elites and Raoul's research and work.

* GildedCage: Riki views Iason's home in Eos as this. It may be lavish but still a prison for him. The condo Iason gets him in Apatia is a big improvement.

* ItGotWorse: Just when it looked like things were improving for Master and Pet as Riki starts to respect Iason, [[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.]]

* MoreThanMindControl: Whether Iason was truly successful or not is up to the viewer but he manipulated the stubborn Riki into relying on him for help and support as a way for Riki to submit to becoming a pet of his own volition.

* {{Yandere}}: ''Both'' Iason and Guy are this towards Riki. ItGetsWorse.

The 2012 OVA series have now been licensed by MediaBlasters for distribution in the US for a late 2012 release.

* {{AI Is A Crapshoot}}/{{Gone Horribly Right}}: The novel explains Jupiter's origins to power as having been this.

* AllThereInTheManual: It's much more complicated to understand some characters' motivations without having read the novels. If you watch the anime ''and'' listen the CD drama you will understand the story much better, because the CD drama contains parts of the story that the anime doesn't show. Like the fact that Iason is [[spoiler:no ordinary human but some kind of ArtificialHuman but not an android]], which explains why he is so disturbed from having feelings for Riki and also explains why he has minor blood loss or emotes little pain when he [[spoiler:loses his legs]] (we know that he does feel pain due to the time Riki bit him but Iason seems to have a high tolerance for it).

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

* DefiledForever: Riki states this as a reason to Guy that they can never go back to how things were before.
* DesignerBabies: How the top class of Pets are bred at the Academy and Raoul's research and work.

* {{Seme}}: Iason is quite a tall and dominating Blondy. A conversation that Riki has with Katze in the novel reveals that Riki ''used to be'' the seme in his previous relationship (yes, despite being shorter) as Guy did whatever Riki wanted on a whim. This reversal is logically, one of the reasons he hates being a Pet.

* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Guy, who also was TheLancer to Riki's AntiHero when they were [[JapaneseDelinquents gangsters]].

* RelationshipSabotage: Guy believes Iason essentially did this, ending his and Riki's relationship when Iason stole Riki away. Guy looked to even the score.

* SecretRelationship: The novel goes into more detail in how Riki never mentioned Iason after their first meeting to Bison and was secretive about where he was getting money from before his sudden disappearance. Riki tries to hide his Pet status when he returns but Iason blows it wide open to the gang.

* SlaveCollar: Iason sometimes put one on Riki like a leash for the mongrel during their first 3 years together. Other Pets are also seen wearing them in both [=OVA=]s.

* TheStoic: The upper echelons of Tanagura all behave like this although certain circumstances create ''[[NotSoStoic exceptions]]''.

* CantGetInTroubleForNuthin: Riki often caused trouble in hopes he'd be discarded by Iason. He wa sonly punished once when he slept with another Pet.

* SexSlave: All the pets but Riki in particular.

* WorkOffTheDebt: How it all started when Riki insisted after he was saved by Iason. It was to keep Iason's silence that Riki does this in the novels.

The novel was partially adapted into a two-episode anime {{OVA}} by Anime International Company, the first episode released in August 1992, and the second in May 1994. In November 1993, an audio drama entitled ''Dark Erogenous'' was released focusing on a time period left unexplored in the original novels. A new anime OVA adaptation, also from AIC, was scheduled to begin releasing in Japan in 2009 but it was delayed due to financial problems. The first OVA of four announced for the remake titled ''Ai no Kusabi ~ petere Kanj ~'' was released on Jan 18, 2012. The second OVA ''~ pardo Setsuyoku ~'' was released on Feb 15, 2012 with volume 3: ''~ congressus Kaik ~'' released on March 21st and the last announced volume 4: ''~ retino Inbaku~'' on April 18th.

* [[LastKiss Last Deep Kiss]]: [[spoiler:Riki]] touches the ends of his and [[spoiler:Iason]]'s Black Moon cigarettes for a drag as their "last deep kiss" and OneLastSmoke before they die.

* [[spoiler: MurderTheHypotenuse]]: What Guy was going for.

* RagingStiffie: Iason often uses the Pet Ring as a ShockCollar to inflict this on Riki by arousing him and having the ring painfully tighten around the base of his erect member to prevent Riki from climaxing as a means to sexually tease him during sex. Other times it's simply to control him and/or punish him when Riki refuses to cooperate and skips the arousal portion.
* RedLightDistrict: The city of Midas is more or a less a large version of this. It's also where a lot of discarded Pets end up in brothels and peep shows.
* RelationshipSabotage: Guy believes Iason essentially did this, ending his and Riki's relationship when Iason stole Riki away. Guy looked even the score even further.

* CrazyJealousGuy: Iason flies into fits of rage every time Riki even looks at someone else but Guy actually takes it UpToEleven.

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

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

* [[DyingDeclarationOfLove Dying Demonstration of Love]]: After finally acknowledging how much he loves [[spoiler:Iason]], [[spoiler:Riki]] refuses to let [[spoiler:Iason]] face death alone and returns to be with him at the end.

* EmotionsVsStoicism: Explored with Tanagura's social structure and Iason and Riki's "relationship".

* LoveMartyr: [[spoiler:Riki]] submits to his feelings for [[spoiler:Iason]] despite his harsh treatment as a pet choosing to [[spoiler:return to Iason and ''die'' with him.]]

* LuredIntoATrap: [[spoiler:Riki]], when [[spoiler:Iason]] took him to be a pet and [[spoiler:Iason]] late in the story.

* PeopleJars: Common in a world where many people are the result of LegoGenetics.

The story takes place on the planet Amoi, ruled by a computer called Jupiter, which has imposed a number of strict social rules on its population. The Elites, humans that are genetically engineered by Jupiter, occupy the capital city of Tanagura and travel to the pleasure city of Midas, which has a slum called Ceres. They are ranked amongst themselves by hair color with the Blondies being the highest. Under Jupiter's restrictions, the Elites are all sterile and forbidden from indulging in sexual activities. Blondies and other elites keep "pets" (young teenagers) purely for voyeuristic purposes and they are kept for about a year before being discarded. Further emasculation is seen in the "Furniture," young boys (that were all once mongrels) who serve the Blondies.

Iason Mink, a high-class Blondy, runs into Riki, a 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 issues of caste systems and social exclusion.

* 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 this.

* LegoGenetics: Particularly how top class Pets are bred and [[spoiler:Elites are created.]]

* {{Modesty Bedsheet}}s: In the [=OVA=]s. The illustrations in the novels are far more explicit.

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

* VictimFallsForRapist: Other than Riki and Iason's first encounter, the "taming" of Riki was hardly consensual. Iason continues to force himself upon Riki, yet by their later encounters, Riki is enjoying it and feeling conflicted.

The story takes place on the planet Amoi, ruled by a computer called Jupiter, which has imposed a number of strict social rules on its population. The Elites, humans that are genetically engineered by Jupiter, occupy the capital city of Tanagura and travel to the pleasure city of Midas, which has a slum called Ceres. They are ranked amongst themselves by hair color with the Blondies being the highest. Under Jupiter's restrictions, the Elites are all sterile and forbidden from indulging in sexual activities. Blondies and other elites keep "pets" (young teenagers) purely for voyeuristic purposes and they are kept for about a year before being discarded. Further emasculation is seen in the "Furniture," young boys (that were all once mongrels) who serve the Blondies.

Iason Mink, a high-class Blondy, runs into Riki, a 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 issues of caste systems and social exclusion.

The novel was partially adapted into a two-episode anime {{OVA}} by Anime International Company, the first episode released in August 1992, and the second in May 1994. In November 1993, an audio drama entitled ''Dark Erogenous'' was released focusing on a time period left unexplored in the original novels. A new anime OVA adaptation, also from AIC, was scheduled to begin releasing in Japan in 2009 but it was delayed due to financial problems. The first OVA of four announced for the remake titled ''Ai no Kusabi ~ petere Kanjū ~'' was released on Jan 18, 2012. The second OVA ''~ pardo Setsuyoku ~'' was released on Feb 15, 2012 with volume 3: ''~ congressus Kaikō ~'' released on March 21st and the last announced volume 4: ''~ retino Inbaku~'' on April 18th.

* {{Angst}}: Riki so much due to how his life turned out and the state of his love life. First he's stolen away from his "pairing partner" that he very much loved, then MadeASlave, stripped of his freedom hurting his pride, is consistently sexually assaulted (he did not choose to be a Pet), [[spoiler:secretly desires his captor that he should legitimately hate but can't express how he feels to his ex-lover and best friend who wants to save him due to aforementioned pride]]. It's complicated.

* ArtificialHumans: Jupiter's "children".
* AudioErotica: Iason Mink and Riki. The very purpose of some tracks in the soundtracks and CD Dramas such as "Flashback" and "Black Moon" in the ''Sympathy'' album which didn't have any dialogue when played in the original OVA. Particularly KanetoShiozawa as Iason speaking seductive whispers to Riki and ToshihikoSeki's erotic monologues as Riki in the dramas and soundtracks. Which is to be expected because it's an AUDIO drama about a SexSlave and his {{in-universe}} irresistible master, complete with moaning, sensual BGM and related sound effects. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F5_LyQiAY8#t=2m51s An example]] when Riki get his RestrainingBolt ShockCollar of a ring...

* BrainsAndBondage: Iason is the smartest, most superior of the Blondies and viewed by Jupiter as perfect. He also ''really enjoys'' ''[[CasualKink dominating and "disciplining"]]'' his Pet. While it's not actually BDSM, Iason's games with the Pet ring are all about making Riki submissive since Riki constantly rebels against him.
* {{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]].

* BreakTheHaughty: It took Iason 3 years to "tame" Riki.

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

* EnthusiasmVersusStoicism: Explored with Tanagura's social structure and Iason and Riki's "relationship".

* FantasticCasteSystem: In Tanagura, Blondies and other elites are genetically engineered to be the elite and naturally born humans of people that once rebelled are treated as "mongrels" that are the lowest of the low (even furniture are treated better). Furthermore, the birth rate of humans in Ceres is manipulated to keep their population under control. These humans are also deprived of citizenship and therefore have no official identities.
* FantasticGhetto: Ceres, a slum where the majority of "mongrels" live.
* FantasticRacism: Discrimination not only based on class but where and how you were born as well. It's a wide misconception that people were discriminated on hair color alone though. Note there are also ''pure'' dark haired elites called "Onyx" as well as other hair colored elites.

* {{Hologram}}: The new 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.

* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou: Part of Riki's appeal to Iason is the fact that Riki was a charismatic, strong, prideful and defiant mongrel and leader of a gang that didn't want to be controlled. He really gets a kick out of Riki's rebellious nature so long as Riki doesn't "cheat" on him.

* [[LastKiss Last Deep Kiss]]: [[spoiler:Riki]] touches the ends of his and [[spoiler:Iason]]'s Black Moon cigarettes for a drag as their "last deep kiss" and OneLastSmoke before they die.

* 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.

* SayMyName: In the first OVA when police ambush the Bisons. "Riki!", "Guy!", "Riki!", "GUUUUYYYY!!!"

* ShamefulStrip: The novel explains that as a way to "discipline" and train Riki to be accustomed to being nude, Iason has him stripped of his clothes and kept naked for a month.

* SituationalSexuality: Nobody in the cast is outright specified as homosexual but engage in homosexual relationships because women are extremely rare on the world of which it takes place. This is the reason the system of "Pairing Partners" was established.

* TemptingFate: [[spoiler:Guy]] tells [[spoiler:Iason]] that he won't get [[spoiler:Riki]] back even if it's [[GoThroughMe "Over My Dead Body"]] to which [[spoiler:Iason]] ''[[TalkToTheFist Immediately Begins To Pummel]]'' him to death. [[spoiler:Riki]] intervenes and saves [[spoiler:Guy]].

* VictimFallsForRapist: Other than Riki and Iason's first encounter, the "taming" of Riki was hardly consensual. Iason continues to force himself upon Riki, yet by their later encounters, Riki is enjoying it and feeling conflicted.