Ai No Kusabi Volume 7 (Yaoi Novel) [Paperback]

This is a pivotal book for the development of Riki and Iason's relationship. However, I can't give the book the 5 stars the story deserves because DMP did such a lazy job translating it. While the speech is smoother to read for the reader than the previous Kelly Quine translated books, this one is missing whole scenes, important lines and it has one seriously mistaken gender.

One very crucial line about the exact moment Riki began to fall in love with Iason is actually left out. Seeing how this whole volume is about how relations between the two leads were improving and Iason was now more caring and considerate to his Pet, one would think that's something that wouldn't be left out. Yet, this important moment for Riki which clarifies much for the reader is left out of this translation. To top it off, one of the Blondies named Aisha Rosen is referred to as a female repeatedly in this book (all 13 Blondies are male). There really isn't any excuse for how botched and sloppy this translation is. It's a shame because this volume was such an interesting read on Riki, Iason and even Guy's growing inner turmoil concerning Riki.

3-9-13 Edit Update and Spoiler Alert: Since some want to know where and when Riki starts falling in love line is left out. It would have been on page 119. Special credit to Rainbowfam for first discovering these errors (later confirmed by me). Missing crucial lines in quotes below. Beware SPOILER!!

-----
And then, Iason broke into Riki's house at that night, after a year of seperation, when Riki was taken by Iason, he couldn't help but be aware of his hunger to Iason's caress, his body went out of control. Riki knew his body was starving. He understood this and gave in.
"At that moment, it was the first time that Riki desired Iason from the bottom of his heart."
Riki was willing to give up his freedom. For enslavement, to be touched.
The years of absence had changed not only Riki, but Iason.
"However, when Riki returned to Eos, he noticed that he wasn't the only one who had changed, the way Iason had sex with him was also different from the past."
-----

It's a big difference from the novel's text and that's just one example. All of chapter 10 is edited down and missing lots of scenes. It's such a pity.

So far I have all the volumes available to this story. Reading has cleared up some of the things I was unclear about in the anime. Waiting for vol 8 to be made available and will be purchasing that as well. Read the story in one day. Could not put it down. Loved the black and white pictures that were included. Story still made me sad but also made me think more about this society and what could happen in the future if technology gets out of control. Great addition to the library of fans that have viewed the original anime and the reworked version.

i liked it... it gave more insight of the growing relationship that occurred between Rikki the slum and Iason Mink