Disclaimer: I own nothing of Vampire Knight. This ingenious work of art belongs to Matsuri Hino.

A/N: This update has occurred sooner than planned. I appreciate how fast the story was read by some as well as I appreciate the comments left. The beginning of an understanding is formed here. I hope you all enjoy it. Review responses and thanks are at the bottom. Enjoy!

Comfort

So caught up in his own misery, he failed to notice he wasn't alone before it was too late, a hard hate-filled voice pierced the clearing, "Kuran!"

Startled, Kaname took a quick deep calming breath and levered himself to his feet before the approaching figure breached the trees surrounding the clearing. One arm still wrapped around his midsection, his other hand flew to his face, trying desperately to erase any evidence of his weakness. Try as he might, the tears would not stop coming. Instead, he covered his mouth with his hand, trying to muffle the silent sobs that he also couldn't suppress. Resigning himself to turning away from the figure, he stood stiffly.

"Forgive me, Kiryu," the pureblood winced as his normally cool voice came out slightly hoarse.

Zero stepped into the clearing, intent on delivering a brutal reprimand, only to stop short. A clearly under-dressed Kaname stood before the lake, facing away from him. One of his arms was wrapped tightly around his waist as the other covered half of his face, even as it was turned from him. His posture was stiff, stiffer than normal for the pureblood, even as his muscles seemed to quiver.

With a delicate sniff, Zero took in the air surrounding them. Sadness imbued the crisp air even as it was strongly diluted with the scent of salt. Without realizing what he was doing, Zero took a step forward.

"Don't!" Kaname commanded in a ragged voice.

"Kuran?" the prefect questioned uncertainly as he took one step forward after another.

"God Zero! Please!" he begged.

Zero stopped abruptly at the distressed pleading. The sobs that Kaname has successfully stopped until now returned in full force as he once again collapsed to his knees.

"Kuran!" Zero shouted as he darted forward.

Kaname rested his forehead softly against the grass, his tears silently falling to the ground, "Please, don't come any closer."

It was no use, the prefect now knelt before the pureblood, hands tightly grasping his shoulders, "What happened Kuran!?! Are you hurt?"

Hugging himself impossibly tighter, Kaname only shook his head. He was hurt all right… Just no the way the hunter thought he was. His wound could not be seen, could not be touched… could not be mended.

Disconcerted at seeing his worst enemy kneeling on the ground in obvious anguish, Zero pushed on Kaname's shoulders, forcing the pureblood to sit up. Hanging his head, Kaname did as he was urged but refused to look at Zero's face. Using his hair, he shielded his face from view, hiding the evidence of his tears even though he knew it was futile… He knew Zero could smell them.

Zero was nearing panic. He could tell the pureblood was in obvious pain, though he knew not what from. He could also smell the evidence of such pain, the emotions as well as the physical proof. However, he could not get Kaname to respond to him nor look at him. Deciding on a different tactic, Zero committed a horrendous sin of a vampire…

"Kaname," Zero sighed softly.

Kaname's head shot up as his name was whispered so endearingly on the lips of his archenemy. Zero barely contained his gasp of shock at seeing how exposed he was. His face softened considerably at the vulnerable pain-filled look he was receiving.

Moving one hand for Kaname's shoulder, he cupped the delicate face, using his thumb to wipe at the stream of sadness, "What is it?"

Shaking his head, Kaname once again tried to hide himself from the hunter, too miserable to even ponder fleeing or reprimanding the ex-human. Zero's hands moved to fully cup Kaname's face, preventing further hiding on the pureblood's part.

"Come on Kaname, you can tell me," he whispered. Seeing the wariness in the rosewood eyes, he continued, "I won't judge you. I won't tell you that you're weak. Everyone has their own personal demons," Zero's eyes flashed in pain but it was quickly smothered, "Even purebloods… Please, let me help you."

Clenching his eyes shut, tears flooded from behind his closed lids. Before he could think about it, he flung himself into Zero's chest with a strangled sob. Caught off guard, Zero lost his balance and fell backward, resting on the lush turf with a sobbing pureblood partly resting upon him. Even as he knew that he should hate the pureblood, Zero couldn't find it in himself to push away the feeble man resting on his head on his chest.

Keeping his word, Zero gently rubbed soothing circles on Kaname's back while the other hand softly carded through chocolate brown locks. He willed his body to relax under Kaname's shuddering form. Though he didn't want to admit it, he had always been wary of Kaname because of the fact he was a pureblood… And as much as he hated purebloods, he feared them as well.

Pushing his fears, as well as his hatred, to the corners of his mind, he softly asked as he continued his ministrations, "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

As the seconds ticked by in silence, Zero gave up on receiving an answer so he was shocked when Kaname quietly began to speak…

END

Flor Oriental- En primer lugar, perdonar la falta de acentos… En Segundo lugar, muchas gracias por el comentario. Le aggrades su interes. Espero que este capitulo es satisfactory. Espero que sigan leyendo y comentando en el resto de la historia.

KanameZero4Eva- I know this doesn't answer your question of what's wrong with Kaname, but I promise, the next chapter will delve into the problem. I hope this update was fast enough as well. Thank you,also, for the favorite author and story add. Please enjoy the rest of the story and please continue to comment, I appreciate the feedback.

Additional thanks to Michi-chi, HeWhoCrys, and Maagareto-sama for adding this story to their story alerts list.

All other reviews to the first chapter will be added at a later date so feel free to comment. Feedback is an author's best friend ^_^