Line #73 Literature/AiNoKusabi


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4_01_cover.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:[[TroubledButCute Riki]] and [[TheBeautifulElite Iason]] on the 4th volume Tokuma Shoten edition cover.]]
3
4
5	''Ai no Kusabi'' ("The Space Between") is a Japanese novel written by Rieko Yoshihara with illustrations by Katsumi Michihara. 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.
6
7	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" (adolescents) purely for voyeuristic purposes and they are kept for about a year before being discarded. Further emasculation is seen in the "Furniture," adolescent boys (that were all once mongrels) who serve the Blondies.
8
9	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 [[FantasticCasteSystem issues of caste systems and social exclusion]].
10
11	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 Kanju ~'' 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.
12
13	The 2012 OVA series has been licensed by Creator/MediaBlasters and released in April 2013 in the US.
14
15	----
16	!!Tropes:
17	* AbductionIsLove: Iason initially kidnapped Riki and made him a Pet to be with him.
18	%%* AIIsACrapshoot: The novel explains Jupiter's origins to power as having been this when it [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters turned on its human creators.]]
19	* AlienSky: Amoi has two moons that were featured in the second part of the 1990s OVA and the 2012 OVA.
20	%%* AllBikersAreHellsAngels: The Bisons since they're more [[JapaneseDelinquents Delinquents]] than anything.
21	* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: The other Pets of Eos look down on Riki and treat him poorly for being a ''[[WrongSideOfTheTracks mongrel from Ceres]]''. They are filled with hate and envy that although Riki is low born, he is higher ranking as Iason's Pet and guaranteed a better life than they ever will have despite being purebred Pets. Status and rank is everything to a Pet and the higher the status of the master, the greater the status of the Pet.
22	* AllThereInTheManual: It's much more complicated to understand some characters' motivations without having read the novels. If you watch the anime ''and'' listen to 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 no ordinary human but an ArtificialHuman but not an android, which explains why he is so disturbed from having feelings for Riki. It also explains why he has minor blood loss or emotes little pain when he [[spoiler:loses his legs]] (Iason seems to have a high tolerance for pain).
23	%%* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Guy]] loses an arm and [[spoiler:Iason]] loses both of his legs.
24	* {{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.
25	* AnimatedAdaptation: The two original anime video series. The first being a partial adaptation and the second being closer to the novel.
26	%%* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: See Sexual Extortion Below
27	%%* AntiHero: Riki and to some extent, Guy.
28	%%* AntiVillain: Iason.
29	%%* ArtificialHuman: The Elites and some manufactured Pets.
30	%%* 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.
31	%%* BadassBiker: Riki was this until [[TrainingFromHell stuff]] [[BreakTheHaughty happened]] as Iason's [[SexSlave Pet]]. He still managed to show his riding skills hadn't dulled upon his return to the Bisons.
32	%%* TheBadGuyWins: 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.
33	%%* BatmanGambit: 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.
34	%%* TheBeautifulElite: Elites but especially the Blondies.
35	* BetweenMyLegs: The first OVA has one shot between Riki's legs of a gang before he gets into a brawl with them.
36	%%* BeYourself: An ongoing theme with Riki who wanted nothing but to remain being himself.
37	%%* 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...
38	* BittersweetEnding: Depending on the viewer since [[spoiler:Riki and Iason]] find happiness and solace in each others' arms despite [[spoiler:dying]].
39	%%* 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]].
40	* 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.
41	%%* {{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]].
42	%%* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: [[spoiler: Riki attempted this on Guy since Iason had threatened Guy.]] [[PoorCommunicationKills It failed in the worst possible way.]]
43	%%* 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.
44	%%* BreakTheHaughty: It took Iason 3 years to "tame" Riki.
45	%%* BringMyBrownPants: Luke in the first OVA series.
46	%%* 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.
47	* CannotSpitItOut: Riki's stubborn refusal to admit to anyone [[spoiler: but ''especially to himself'' that he loves Iason. When Guy confronts him so he can confess his real feelings, Riki instead tries to BreakHisHeartToSaveHim. Guy misunderstands thinking Riki's being held captive solely due to the Pet Ring and resolves to remove it and proceed with his plan to kill Iason.]] Much could have been avoided if Riki [[spoiler:wasn't ashamed to tell his ex he became a Pet and ''wanted'' to be with the Blondy despite hating his life as a Pet.]] Furthermore, Iason never directly tells Riki why he's so determined to keep him.
48	* CantGetInTroubleForNuthin: Riki often caused trouble in hopes he'd be discarded by Iason. He was only punished once when he slept with another Pet.
49	* CantHaveSexEver: Elites (particularly Blondies) are not allowed to have sex. And with the way their artificial bodies were designed, Elites are not even supposed to feel true pain or pleasure. So it’s a surprise to Iason when the first time he has sex with Riki he ''does'' feel genuine pleasure from the act.
50	%%* TheCaretaker: Daryl was this to Riki and risked everything so Riki would remain [[BeYourself being himself]].
51	%%* CastFullOfGay: Justified here in a case of SituationalSexuality, as there are so few females that the men have to find other outlets.
52	%%* CasualKink: This is what Iason believes he's doing with Riki through use of the Pet Ring. Riki doesn't agree.
53	%%* CensorShadow: The [=OVA=]s.
54	%%* CharacterDevelopment: ''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.
55	%%* ChainsOfLove: Various official artwork depict Riki bound in chains to Iason or surrounded by them.
56	%%* TheChessmaster: Iason to a scary degree.
57	%%* ChildhoodFriendRomance: Riki and Guy, who also was TheLancer to Riki's AntiHero when they were [[JapaneseDelinquents gangsters]].
58	* CloseOnTitle: The first 1992 OVA shows the title right before the end credits roll.
59	%%* CockFight: Iason and Guy over Riki. Briefly but still...
60	%%* CoolCar: Particularly Iason's car in the 2012 OVA.
61	%%* CoolPeopleRebelAgainstAuthority: Riki is famous in Ceres for this and proud of it.
62	%%* 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.
63	%%* 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.
64	%%* CrapsackWorld: Amoi is definitely this for many humans where one can be equated to ''furniture''.
65	* CrazyJealousGuy: Iason flies into fits of rage every time Riki even looks at someone else.
66	%%* CrystalSpiresAndTogas: Tanagura very much so in the 2012 OVA with the Elites wearing long robes and capes.
67	%%* CulturalRebel: Iason became this when he stopped caring about Tanagura laws for the sake of keeping Riki.
68	%%* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Guy, a normal human VS Iason, a [[BioAugmentation bio-augmented]] artificial superhuman.]] Guess who won.
69	%%* CuriosityIsACrapshoot: 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.]]
70	* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Riki has a very distinct and striking appearance with pure black hair and eyes that are quite unique for a mongrel (they are Elite traits) and make him stand out in a crowd. [[AdaptationDyeJob For some reason]], Riki's eyes are brown in both OVA adaptations.
71	* {{Cyberpunk}}: Many themes of the Cyberpunk genre are touched upon here. The ruling class is controlled by a MasterComputer and people are [[LegoGenetics Genetically Engineered]] to fit their social class in Tanagura. Even exhibiting certain human characteristics is disgraceful among Elites.
72	* 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. There is also the fact all furniture are from Ceres.]]
73	%%* DeadpanSnarker: Iason.
74	%%* 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.
75	%%* DefrostingIceKing: Sums up Iason's CharacterDevelopment in a nutshell.
76	%%* DesignerBabies: How the top class of Pets are bred at the Academy, Raoul's research and work.
77	%%* {{Determinator}}: The driving force of Iason being a ManipulativeBastard was his determination to make Riki love him.
78	%%* DirtyMindReading: In the novel, Iason exposes a homoerotic dream of [[spoiler:Kirie to reveal how the boy really feels toward Riki as means to further manipulate Riki.]]
79	%%* DramaticWind: Each depiction of Iason setting Riki free and watching him run back to Ceres has this.
80	* DrowningMySorrows: Riki tends to get himself drunk or high on Stout when upset. In the CD Dramas, Riki drinks heavily when he laments being a pet and misses Guy. He even cries himself to sleep with bottle in hand.
81	* DownerBeginning: The prologue starts with an unknown slave being sexually tormented by his angry master.
82	* DudeMagnet: 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.
83	%%* [[spoiler: DyingAlone]]: [[DefiedTrope Defied]] in the TwistEnding.
84	%%* DyingDeclarationOfLove: 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]].
85	%%* EarnYourTitle: Riki The Dark
86	%%* EatingTheEyeCandy: Riki gets this a lot and not just by Iason.
87	%%* EmotionsVsStoicism: Explored with Tanagura's social structure and Iason and Riki's relationship.
88	%%* EmptyShell: End result of people forcibly {{Brainwashed}} to be Pets. Iason threatens to turn Guy into one and actually does so to [[spoiler: Kirie]].
89	%%* EntitledToHaveYou: Iason feels he's entitled to have Riki.
90	* ExplicitContent: One major reason ''Ai no Kusabi'' stands out amongst many other YaoiGenre titles with a high level of explicit content is due to the intricate story and how the setting drives the motivations and actions of the characters. Sex plays a major role but is ultimately not the point of it.
91	* ExtremeMeleeRevenge: [[spoiler: After ''[[TalkToTheFist punching Guy in a rage]]'', Iason proceeds to tear off Guy's left arm for the latter withholding Riki and giving him a penectomy. Iason tells Riki that it was justified retribution.]]
92	%%* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Iason]]
93	%%* {{Fanservice}}: Seems to be the point of the [=OVA=]s' and CD Dramas' existence.
94	* FantasticAesop: Class discrimination and treatment of slaves as inhuman in a setting where unfeeling idealized machines rule the world. Interestingly, homosexuality is never brought up as a societal issue but as the norm here.
95	* 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.
96	%%* FantasticGhetto: Ceres, a slum where the majority of "mongrels" live.
97	* FantasticRacism: Discrimination not only based on class but where and how you were born as well. Rank is everything in this society and people without citizenship to even be ranked are not even considered human. It's a wide misconception that people were discriminated on hair color. Only the Elites are ranked by their hair. Note there are also ''pure'' dark haired elites called "Onyx" as well as other hair colored elites.
98	%%* 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.
99	%%* FetishFuelFuture: And how!
100	* ForbiddenFruit: As the highest ranking Tanagura official, Iason is fully aware that having a mongrel for a pet and keeping him past a certain age is frowned upon. Actually sleeping with him is strictly forbidden. Iason is warned but insists on keeping Riki anyways.
101	%%* ForcefulKiss: 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.
102	%%* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:Raoul says to Iason "Your vices will be the end of you."]]
103	%%* 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.
104	* FromBadToWorse: [[spoiler: Guy comes along and kidnaps Riki back 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.]]
105	* GildedCage: Riki views Iason's home in Eos as lavish but still a prison for him. The condo Iason gets him in Apatia is a big improvement yet still a cage.
106	%%* GoGoEnslavement: The outfits worn by Pets are certainly revealing.
107	%%* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Manon. Kirie who was present with him almost goes through this.
108	* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Iason]] died truly happy when his feelings were reciprocated.
109	* GoodOldFisticuffs: Riki gets into a lot of fights without any weapons but his fists.
110	* AGoodWayToDie: [[spoiler:Riki]] chooses to die with [[spoiler:Iason]] and with no regrets.
111	* GroinAttack: [[spoiler:Guy]] cuts off [[spoiler:Riki]]'s penis.
112	%%* TheGruntingOrgasm: As a graceful hair flip.
113	%%* HairContrastDuo: Iason (blond hair) and Riki (black hair).
114	%%* HappinessInSlavery: Daryl in the novel and CD Dramas. Subverted harshly with Riki [[spoiler:at the end due to the tragic ending.]]
115	%%* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler:Kirie]] in the novel.
116	%%* HeldGaze: [[spoiler:Riki and Iason]] during their final moments.
117	* HellBentForLeather: Riki wears a black leather jacket and pants as his standard attire.
118	%%* TheHeroDies
119	%%* HostageSituation: Happens to Guy and this is his interpretation of Iason keeping Riki.
120	%%* HotBlooded: Riki once was but life as a Pet calmed him down substantially. Kirie is a hot head as well.
121	%%* {{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.
122	* {{Hypocrite}}: 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.
123	* IChooseToStay: [[spoiler:With Iason's impending death, Riki had a chance to be free and return to the slums.]] He doesn't go.
124	* IDieFree: Averted. The novel makes it clear that even though Riki was truly miserable as Iason's Pet, Riki stubbornly endured it all because he pridefully valued his life. He fought for life in Guardian, in the slums and continued so in Eos. Thus committing suicide was out of the question. This makes later events all the more tragic yet very touching when [[spoiler:Riki decides to give up his life [[TogetherInDeath to die with the man he loves]]]].
125	%%* IfICantHaveYou: Guy to Riki.
126	%%* 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.
127	* IKissYourFoot: Riki is humiliated in the novel when he's forced to lick Iason's boot in front of the shocked Bisons.
128	%%* IllKillYou: Iason to Guy.
129	* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou: Part of Riki's appeal to Iason is the fact that Riki was a charismatic, strong, prideful, 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.
130	%%* IndirectKiss: Towards the end....
131	* InherentInTheSystem: Iason himself acknowledges issues with Tanagura's social class system when he determines the only way he can really be with Riki is as Master and Pet due to the structure of laws. A system he helps control but does not try to outright change. Instead he bends and breaks laws to keep Riki fully knowing Riki abhors being his Pet.
132	%%* ItsNotYouItsMe: Riki to Guy.
133	* IWillWaitForYou: Iason says he will wait for the day Riki willingly becomes his.
134	%%* 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.
135	* LastKiss: [[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.
136	%%* LegoGenetics: All over the place. Particularly how top class Pets are bred and [[spoiler:Elites are created.]]
137	%%* LightIsNotGood: All the Blondies in general that have a penchant to wear white.
138	%%* LimaSyndrome: Iason and Riki, respectively.
139	* LoopholeAbuse: Iason claims that since Riki is a mongrel, rules concerning pets don't apply to him.
140	%%* LoveDodecahedron: And at the center is Riki and his UnwantedHarem.
141	%%* LoveHurts: Does it ever.
142	%%* LoveMakesYouCrazy: With tragic results.
143	%%* 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.]]
144	%%* LoveRedeems: [[spoiler:Iason]]. Most likely the moral of this whole story.
145	%%* LuredIntoATrap: Riki, when Iason took him to be a pet and [[spoiler:Iason]] late in the story.
146	%%* LustObject: Boy, was Riki this for Iason before the latter fell in love with him.
147	%%* MadeASlave: Riki as a pet, yeah.
148	* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: Twice. Aside from some pain, [[spoiler:Riki]] takes having his penis cut off rather well (he doesn't have any ill will towards [[spoiler:Guy]] and views the incident as LaserGuidedKarma for his previous {{Jerkass}} treatment of [[spoiler:Guy]]). Other than a brief look of concern and discomfort, [[spoiler:Iason]] has no reaction at all to [[spoiler:losing his legs.]][[note]]In reality the first injury would leave the victim unable to walk and screaming in pain due to the high density of sensory nerve fibers denoting the penile area; the second injury would leave the victim dead in about... 30 seconds (massive hemorrhage from multiple major blood vessels: would bleed out almost as fast as slicing someone's throat. Iason is an exception since he's not exactly human).[[/note]]
149	%%* ManipulativeBastard: The lengths in which Iason goes through to keep Riki truly make him a MagnificentBastard.
150	%%* ManlyTears: Guy in the OVA.
151	%%* TheMasochismTango: Iason. Riki. FULL STOP!
152	%%* MasterComputer: Jupiter is this.
153	%%* AMatchMadeInStockholm: Riki and Iason.
154	%%* MechanicalEvolution: How Elites evolved from RidiculouslyHumanRobots into the ArtificialHumans they are now.
155	%%* MentalPictureProjector: In the novel, Iason uses one of these to reveal what Kirie really thinks about Riki.
156	%%* MiseryBuildsCharacter: Life as a Pet made Riki subdued, humble and mature. He still remained proud as ever though.
157	%%* MrExposition: Katze is used as this in the first OVA series often explaining what's going on to Riki (and the audience).
158	%%* ModestyBedsheet: In the [=OVA=]s. The illustrations in the novels are a bit more explicit yet censored.
159	%%* 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]].
160	%%* MurderByMistake: [[spoiler:Guy]] succeeds in murdering [[spoiler:Iason]] but indirectly gets [[spoiler:Riki]] killed too.
161	%%* MurderTheHypotenuse: [[spoiler: What Guy was going for.]]
162	%%* NoodleIncident; Whatever happened in Guardian between Riki and Robby/Lavi over someone named Schell/Cher.
163	%%* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: Understandable with Iason since he believes he's entitled to Riki's body but even Guy doesn't give Riki much space.
164	%%* NoSexAllowed: All Elites are to abide by this and breaking it is serious taboo. Not that Iason cares.....
165	%%* NotGoodWithRejection: Iason, Guy, Robby, Kirie and Miguel The Paradita. None handled rejection by Riki well.
166	%%* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Riki says this to Guy as another reason they can't go back to how it was before.
167	* NotSoStoic: In the novel and 1994 OVA, both [[spoiler:Raoul and Katze]] shed their stoic facades and [[spoiler:Katze]] 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.
168	%%* OddCouple: Iason and Riki.
169	%%* OfficialCouple: Iason and Riki despite TheMasochismTango.
170	* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: The novel builds the rivalry of Bison vs Jeeks/Zekes gangs coming to a head when Riki and company prepare to take down the other gang once and for all. Only the events that happened aren't told or explained. The Bisons are next seen celebrating their victory afterwards.
171	%%* OhCrap: Riki's expression when the blast doors of Dana Burn start to come down.
172	%%* 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.
173	%%* OneHeadTaller: Iason is a little more than one head taller than Riki.
174	* OneLastSmoke: [[spoiler:Iason and Riki]] share a LastKiss in the form of touching their cigarettes together before dying.
175	* OpenSecret: That Iason is sleeping with his Pet (the hickies on Riki's neck made it obvious since Iason never coupled him with other Pets). Other Elites whisper behind his back with rumors but even Iason admits that it's an open secret due to giving Riki special treatment.
176	* OperationJealousy: In the novel and expanded on in the CD Dramas, Riki has forbidden sex with Mimea (a female Pet) in an effort to not only to embarrass and ruin Iason's image with scandal but to also test his feelings and make him jealous. [[GoneHorriblyRight Worked too well]] as a jealous and very angry Iason proceeds to sexually torture the hell out of Riki. This is also featured in the 2012 remake.
177	%%* OppositesAttract: The underlying story of this MasochismTango. Lampshaded by Katze in a line that also serves as a TitleDrop.
178	%%* 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.
179	%%* 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.
180	%%* PeopleJars: Common in a world where many people are the result of LegoGenetics.
181	%%* PoliceBrutality: The 'Darkmen' of the Midas Division of Public Safety. Mongrels fear them for a reason.
182	%%* PoorCommunicationKills: Literally.
183	%%* {{Pride}}: 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.
184	%%* PropertyOfLove: What Iason ultimately wants for Riki to become ''willingly''.
185	%%* PsychoticLoveTriangle: Poor Riki is caught in the middle.
186	%%* 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.
187	* 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.
188	%%* 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.
189	%%* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Iason.]]
190	%%* 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.
191	%%* RedOniBlueOni: Riki and Iason at the beginning respectively. Also Riki and Guy when they were active in Bison.
192	%%* 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.
193	%%* ReleasedToElsewhere: Played with Riki but played straight with [[spoiler:Daryl]].
194	* RescueRomance: Subverted: In the 1992 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.]]
195	* RestrainingBolt: Iason uses Riki's Pet Ring to inflict pain on Riki when he won't behave himself or as a twisted form of foreplay.
196	%%* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: What happened to [[spoiler:Kirie.]]
197	* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: Subverted. This is the general belief of Elites but they have enhanced organic human brains making them not count as androids but closer to cyborgs.
198	%%* RightThroughHisPants: Iason can't keep his hands off of Riki even when clothed.
199	%%* 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.
200	%%* SatisfiedStreetRat: Subverted. Riki acts like one and everyone believes he is save for Guy and Iason.
201	%%* SayMyName: In the first OVA when police ambush the Bisons. "Riki!", "Guy!", "Riki!", "GUUUUYYYY!!!"
202	%%* ScarsAreForever: Katze.
203	* SceneryPorn: Both the 1990s OVA and the 2012 OVA have rich and detailed environments and cityscapes depicting the futuristic world of Amoi.
204	* 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. Subverted with Mimea and Riki when Iason thinks Riki meant for it to be secret but that was never Riki's intention.
205	* {{Seme}}: Iason is quite a tall and dominating Blondy. In the novel, Riki ''used to be'' a seme in his previous reversible relationship (yes, despite being shorter) as he pursued that relationship and Guy did whatever Riki wanted on a whim. This reversal is logically, one of the reasons Riki hates being a Pet.
206	%%* SexForServices: 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.
207	%%* SexGod: Iason so much InUniverse that Riki can't bring himself to sleep with anyone else afterwards, afraid nobody could ever compare.
208	%%* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: A variation of this trope with Iason coming to terms with the fact he enjoys sex which is forbidden.
209	%%* SexSlave: All of the Pets but Riki in particular.
210	%%* SexualExtortion: Iason threatens to tamper with Guy's mind and freedom unless Riki agrees to return to him.
211	* ShadowArchetype: Kirie is this to Riki. He is very much like Riki before his ordeal as a Pet and serves as a reminder to Riki of what kind of {{Jerkass}} he could have become.
212	* 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.
213	%%* ShowerOfAngst: Riki.
214	%%* 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.
215	%%* SingleTargetSexuality: Guy and especially Iason for Riki.
216	* 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.
217	%%* SlaveCollar: Every Pet has one. They can be removed if a master wishes so.
218	%%* SlaveRace: Genetically manufactured Pets.
219	%%* SlidingScaleOfGenderInequality: Women are rare.
220	%%* SlidingScaleOfUnavoidableVersusUnforgivable: Presented and touched upon with Iason's overall actions towards Riki and Guy's WellIntentionedExtremist actions towards the end.
221	%%* SmallRoleBigImpact: Daryl and Mimea.
222	%%* SmokingIsCool: Riki, members of Bison but particularly Katze.
223	%%* SmugSmiler: Guy. He doesn't remain smug for long....
224	%%* SmugSnake: Kirie. He doesn't remain smug for long....
225	%%* SoftSpokenSadist: Iason.
226	%%* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Several cases but stand outs are Kiri/Kirie/Kyrie, Robby/Lavi, Schell/Cher, Guy/Gai and Kyaru/Cal.
227	%%* StalkerWithACrush: Both Guy and Iason. Iason even shows up at Riki's place unannounced.
228	%%* StarCrossedLovers: [[spoiler:Iason and Riki.]]
229	%%* StraightGay: Pretty much everyone in the main cast.
230	%%* StrangerInAFamiliarLand: Riki when he gets back to Ceres and exactly what Iason predicted he would become.
231	%%* 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''.
232	%%* StreetUrchin: Most mongrels that never became Furniture are or were this.
233	%%* 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.
234	* SuperHumanTrafficking: [[DesignerBabies Designer Baby]] and [[UpliftedAnimal chimera]] Pets are highly sought after prizes on the BlackMarket.
235	* SurveillanceAsThePlotDemands: Iason has surveillance all over Eos watching Riki's every move. This doesn't stop Daryl from using said security system to help Riki escape.
236	%%* TakingYouWithMe: Guy tries this.
237	* TalkingInYourSleep: While asleep, Riki frequently called out Guy's name much to Iason's chagrin.
238	%%* TalkToTheFist: During the extremely brief CockFight.
239	%%* TechnologyPorn: The 2012 OAV showcases much of the technology in Eos. Usually via elaborate CGI.
240	* TenderTears: [[spoiler:Riki]] tears up upon seeing [[spoiler:Iason]]'s mutilated legs and having to leave him behind to die.
241	* 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]].
242	* TimeSkip: 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.
243	%%* TitleDrop: Katze does the honor here as a metaphor to describe Riki and Iason's relationship.
244	%%* TogetherInDeath: [[spoiler:Riki and Iason]] at the end.
245	* TrackingDevice: All Pet rings have them built in. Riki is easily found after escaping from Eos because of it. Riki also had a knife which had a tracer Katze placed in it.
246	%%* {{Tragedy}}
247	%%* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness: Because a certain someone didn't think things through.
248	%%* TrainingFromHell: Iason's ''taming'' of Riki to make him a suitable Pet.
249	%%* TroubledButCute: Thy name is Riki.
250	%%* {{Tsundere}}: Riki is a ''very'' brutal one towards Iason.
251	* {{Uke}}: Riki while being a very masculine, feisty, angsty and brooding biker.
252	* UnequalPairing: Iason, the highest Blondy and the mongrel turned sex slave Riki.
253	* UnwantedHarem: Riki has lots of admirers. Many that he doesn't care for. This is by no means a harem tale.
254	* UnwantedRescue: Riki does not want to be rescued from Iason when Guy comes to save him.
255	* UrbanSegregation: Part of the caste system. Riki is attacked in Midas partly for just being there as a mongrel.
256	%%* VideoPhone: Surprisingly, rarely used by Iason whose office has wireless phones in the first OVA series.
257	* WellIntentionedExtremist: Guy 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]].
258	%%* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Iason's thoughts and initial concern about his feelings for Riki.
259	%%* WhatMeasureIsAHumanoid: Lightly brought up with Iason's issues an ArtificialHuman Elite that engages in a physical relationship with a human being.
260	* WholeEpisodeFlashback: Episode 4 of the remake details how Riki met Iason and Katze. [[spoiler: Also, it shows how Riki started engaging in a forbidden relationship with Mimea just before the events of the first episode]]. Riki is shown drinking in a bar before the flashback begins. After the events end, it cuts back to Riki in the bar.
261	* WildGooseChase: [[spoiler:Iason]] follows the tracer in [[spoiler:Riki's Pet ring]] believing it will lead him to [[spoiler:Riki]] when it's in fact no longer on [[spoiler:Riki]] and [[spoiler:walks into a trap set by Guy.]]
262	%%* WrongSideOfTheTracks: Riki isn't just any Pet. He's a ''mongrel'' from Ceres.
263	%%* 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.
264	%%* XanatosSpeedChess: Iason navigating through Blondy politics and schemes to keep Riki.
265	%%* {{Yandere}}: ''Both'' Iason and Guy are this towards Riki. [[PsychoticLoveTriangle It Gets Worse]].
266	%%* YankTheDogsChain: 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.
267	%%* YaoiGenre: One of the first to be adapted into an anime.
268	* YourNormalIsOurTaboo: Sex among normal humans is all too common but taboo to Elites that are forbidden to indulge in sexual activities themselves. Furthermore, Iason choosing a mongrel for a Pet, sleeping with him and even treating him special is downright SickAndWrong to the other Elites that reject human qualities (especially to his friend Raoul). Yet, Iason doesn't care about any of this.
269

Context Literature / AiNoKusabi