Raoul Am

{{{3}}} (Ai no Kusabi ?, 間の楔)[nb 1] 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. This futuristic tale is set in a world where men are assigned various social classes based on their hair color. Iason Mink, a high-class Blondie, runs into Riki, a black-haired Mongrel, and makes him his "Pet." As Riki learns of the dangers Iason faces by keeping him, he finds himself developing feelings for his master. Focusing on the ill-fated love 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, with the first episode released in August 1992, and the second in May 1994. In November 1993, an audio drama entitled Erogenous Dark was released focusing on a time period left unexplored in the original novels.

Digital Manga Publishing acquired the license to give the novel an English language release in North America, translated by Kelly Quine. DMP is publishing the novel as a six volume series, with the first volume released in December 2007 and the remaining volumes planned for release in 2008. The novels are being marketed under the title Ai no Kusabi: The Space Between. The OVA is currently unlicensed for release outside of Japan.

Source: Wikipedia