AI NO KUSABI

Setting

Ai no Kusabi takes place on the world of Amoi, which is ruled by a computer named Jupiter. Jupiter has introduced a number of strict social rules to society. Among them, social status is determined by hair color, blonde being the highest, down to black or dark brown as the lowest. The Blondies, genetically engineered by Jupiter, are the highest social class and occupy the capital city of Tanagura. They travel to the satellite pleasure city of Midas, which has an independent slum area called Ceres. Under Jupiter's restrictions, the Blondies are sterile and forbidden from indulging in sexual activities. They keep "pets" (young teenagers) for about a year, for purely voyeuristic purposes, before discarding them. Further emasculation is seen in the "Furniture", young boys who serve the Blondies.

Contrary to popular belief, the hair-color caste system only applies to those working in Tanagura and not in Ceres. The true separation is between those genetically created in a lab (those in Tanagura) and the "mongrels" formed the natural way (those in Ceres). However it was written in the novel that Tanagura manipulated even the natural births of Ceres, ensuring that its population did not grow by restricting the number of female births to 1 in 10.

Iason Mink:

 Iason is not just any Blondie – he is the most superior and powerful of all of them, the one who talks directly to Jupiter and carries out Jupiter's commands. He is the head of the Syndicate, Tanagura's black market for pet trade. Blondies were artificially designed and sterile, possessing an IQ of more than 300. He is blonde and taller than Riki. In the OVA, it appears that a metallic shoulder pad is common as their everyday clothing. He is in love with his pet Riki, a mongrel from the slums, which casts a dark shadow over his seeming perfection. Iason is interested at first in what it would be like to have a gang leader from the slums as a pet instead of those non-thinking one bred from the Academy. He also shows signs of an obsession which can be devastating. There were some instances where he showed jealousy, like when Riki masturbates in front of a hologram of a woman (mentioned in the CD drama), the incident where he had forbidden intercourse with Mimea (shown in OVA and mentioned in the CD drama) and when Riki called out Guys's name while sleeping after drinking too much sake (in the CD drama). He finally falls in love with Riki but when asked about it, he gives a sad smile. He has an elegant and calm manner that hides a passionate, ruthless and unforgiving nature. For Riki, Iason is willing to flaunt and break all taboos, like having a mongrel as a pet and keeping said pet for 3 years. In the novel, it was mentioned that as part of Riki's training as a proper pet, he made the mongrel go naked for one month, for Riki to get used to being naked in front of him. Then for the next 2 months, he made Riki masturbate in front of Iason and show his intimate parts. After 6 months, Iason took the unusual step of having sexual intercourse with Riki. It was unusual because elites and blondies, are just to enjoy looking at their pet, not touching them. In the audio book, two OVAs, and first drama CD, he is played by Shiozawa Kaneto. In the later drama CDs, he is played by Tooru Ookawa.

Riki (リキ): 

Riki, or "Riki the Dark" has been called the "charisma" of the slums. In the OVA, he has black hair and brown eyes with tanned skin. Riki wears a black sando with a black and maroon jacket on top and a pair of black pants. He was the leader of Bison, a gang in Ceres, and eventually became Iason Mink's pet, which had a crushing effect to his human pride. During his stint as Iason's pet, he is given a pet ring (which has a tracer and allows him to access certain areas like the Saloon) around his manhood which did not follow the usual design (such as necklaces, rings or earrings). Iason explained to Raoul that after registering Riki as a pet, an ID-less citizen, the laws cease to apply to him. Riki was registered as Z107M. In the CD Drama, he formed a sort of friendship with Daryl, Iason's furniture. Daryl helped him escape, at the risk of his own position, because he did not want Riki to change his personality and attitude as a gang leader, and explains to Iason that making him into a pet might be too much, thus, his assistance without Riki's knowledge. Riki was once Guy's lover, the second in command of his gang. Riki is proud, rebellious, fierce and defiant, but his experiences change him. He becomes mature and quiet. Some men living in the slums feel he has lost his spark. He is torn between his pride and the feelings he has for Iason that he is unwilling to acknowledge. In the novel, it was mentioned that Riki first met Iason when he was 16 years old, then he was taken to become Iason's pet when he was 17 years old and returned to the slums when he was 20 years old. It was mentioned in the novel that the reason why Riki did not want to return to Iason, aside from losing his freedom, was that he felt that he would not be able to resist him if Iason thought of doing something to him. In the audio book, two OVAs, and the first drama CD, he is played by Seki Toshihiko. In the later drama CDs, he is played by Itou Kentarou.