The Case Study of Vanitas (ヴァニタスの手記)

I am so callow.

There is so much I do not know.

For instance...

Vanitas, I wanted to ask you something.

Well, out with it.

What in the devil is love?

The Case Study of Vanitas

The Case Study of Vanitas

You always ponder the simple stuff like emotions and love

I hope one day you'll come to understand them

Torn apart and patched back together so many times leaves you a miserable sight

You don't even know what it means to be alive

You needn't put into words that you want us alone together

I have a feeling we can accept one another, and that's fine for now

I love this world, and I love the light that only you can bring me

Even with my fractured eyes it makes this world

Appear ever so radiant

There's nothing certain in life

But I'm sure you can see me

When the sky and void meet, turn back from dreams of the future

T-Tarte Tatin!

I didn't think he'd get this excited.

Noé has always been a sucker for Tarte Tatin.

Thank you for letting me know, Dominique.

It's an honor to be of service.

Tarte Tatin!

Um, may I dig in?

Of course.

It's so good!

My maître often brought Tarte Tatin home as a gift from trips to the human world.

But I never imagined I'd have it in Altus Paris!

They say a vampire who fancied it as much as you brought the recipe back from the human world.

Don't tell me that said vampire was my grandfather.

Thank you for taking me to such a magnificent restaurant, Luca.

No need to thank me.

You came all this way to visit.

Apologies for my uncle's absence.

It's quite all right.

I'm glad we'll have plenty of time for a meeting tomorrow.

I have lots of questions about what went on after the ball.

Noé.

I'm really grateful for last night.

Thanks to you, my life and the lives of many other vampires were saved.

No, I didn't do anything.

Too sweet!

I must thank you as well, Noé.

You protected Master Luca in my absence.

I am truly grateful.

Actually...

You have it all wrong.

It was not I who ended the turmoil. It was Vanitas's power.

Of course, I'm aware of that.

No curse-bearers had to be beheaded, and that is without a doubt thanks to him.

However, Vanitas!

Before I convey my gratitude, I want you to apologize for the other day!

Apologize? Whatever for?

The day we first met... you know... with Jeanne!

Um...

You forced yourself on her!

Oh, you mean the kiss?

Th-That's right.

You can start by apologizing for that.

My bad.

No, not like that!

You're a real pain in the keister.

To whom am I apologizing, anyway?

To Jeanne or to you?

T-To Jeanne, of course.

I see.

In that case, there is no need to apologize.

Jeanne and I are in love with each other.

Keep your fantasies to yourself.

I'm not fantasizing.

See? Feast your eyes.

Jeanne and I already share that sort of relationship.

He's marked!

Th-That's Jeanne's?

That's right.

It is the mark left when vampires imbue the victims of their bloodlust with some of their power.

He lies!

I don't remember doing any such thing!

Now, now, you must at least recognize your own mark.

Then again, you were quite rough.

It's no surprise your memory is spotty.

It was like you were in a trance the way you greedily fed.

Was my blood really so delicious?

So much so that you left this mark upon me?

Jeanne, did you really suck his blood?

Master Luca!

Is this the sort of man you like?!

Huh? Where did that come from?

It's true, isn't it?!

How could you leave your mark on a member of the Blue Moon Clan?!

It's as if you're claiming him as your own!

Th-That's...

That's...

Sorry! Sorry! It seems I took the jest too far.

What?

Luca, this certainly is Jeanne's mark, but she did not wish to leave it.

Are you saying you forced her?

Listen. Calm down. You're scaring me.

She wasn't in her right mind at the time.

You all heard them.

The curse-bearer's voices.

Like the other vampires, it was a momentary lapse of control that made her attack me.

Is that true, Jeanne?

Yes, Master Luca.

Forgive me for not reporting the matter to you.

I see! So that's what happened!

What a relief!

That explains it.

Unless you had lost control, you would never leave your mark on a terribly rude, selfish man such as him!

Why, Luca, I'm getting a distinct feeling you don't like me.

I am so glad you're all right, Jeanne.

Forgive me, Master Luca!

I'll bring him back when I'm done!

Jeanne?!

Noé?

I'll go after them!

Noé?!

Why is everyone leaving through the window?

Why did you tell such a lie?

What? Should I have told the truth?

From what I could tell, it didn't seem like you wanted Luca to know you were stricken with the urge to suck blood.

So I made something up.

I've asked you before, Jeanne.

Are you a curse-bearer?

You've no intention of saying, eh?

It doesn't always happen like that.

I can suppress my thirst for blood as long as I take my medicine.

But its effect wore off quickly that day.

I never heard of such a medicine. How interesting.

Listen, human.

Do not speak a word of this to anyone.

I beg you.

Please.

Do not speak of this!

Have no fear, Jeanne.

I'm not the kind of man who spills the secrets of the woman I love.

But I have two conditions.

Conditions?

That's right.

I won't tell anyone your secret.

In exchange...

you must not suck the blood of anyone but me.

What?!

M-Must you set such a condition?!

It's really quite simple.

Having you suck my blood felt truly divine.

Wait!

What?

What?!

Having my blood sucked never rocked me to the core till that day.

It was truly incredible.

The pleasurable effect of vampire bites results from the aphrodisiac-like substance injected by their fangs.

But its efficacy may differ by the vampire's power and compatibility with the victim.

Vampires inject this substance to keep them still while sucking their blood.

Some vampire bites cause sleep, paralysis, or other non-pleasurable effects.

But much of that is still a mystery, and I—