Author's Notes: Yes, I am BACK! I'm on an update spree. Best of all? I have this story totally written. Downside? I don't update without reviews. See, I've already read the story now, so I don't NEED to update. I do it for YOUR benefit people!

You know the drill, italics marks the lyrics in this chapter. The song here is called 'Perfection'. I wrote it myself. Got lots of praise for the songs I wrote for this story actually.

2sidez-Samecoin: Thanks hun. You've popped up a LOT in my reviews lately. I loveth you.

Chapter 2

It didn't rain much here, but when it did, it was beautiful. Nida had had the luck to be here during that rain, but no smile had graced his features. Now he looked out at the rising sun as he listened to the music coming from the CD player at his side. The asian reveled in the solitude of the forced vacation.

Heard a little story. They called it 'Perfection'. 'Bout a guy broken inside. And how no one could save him.

"I like this song," came Squall's voice behind him. The brunette took a seat on the edge of the cliff where Nida was seated.

Started in his childhood. With parents who 'loved' him. They ignored all his bad deeds. Rewarded the good ones.

"Thanks," Nida replied emotionlessly.

"Whoever wrote it, they were really inspired. Wonder if this 'Perfection' guy was real."

Then there were his teachers. Praised everything he did. Said he was a prodigy. A blessing from 'heaven'.

"He's real," Nida spoke, pain in his eyes.

"What makes you so sure?" the scarred SeeD asked.

And even the kids at school. Envied his skills. Saw him as smart, as strong. And called him 'Perfection'.

"Because he is me."

"Everyone feels that way Nida. Even I do."

It carried on for many years. 'Til few even knew his name. They knew he made them look bad. And hated him for it.

"Squall," Nida growled and then shoved the case from the CD into the other male's hands.

Squall inspected the section he was directed to. Under the title 'Perfection' was the writer's name: Nida Nomura.

"Nida," Squall gasped. "You wrote this?"

Then he grew secluded. His mind grew deluded. Grew to fear what they called him. And shut it all away.

"Last year. My cousin plays for the band, and I wrote a few songs for them."

"I see. So this song is about…"

Finally he broke down. And mourned his own life. Thought that death was all that's left. Then tried to reach it.

"Me," Nida said, pulling his knees up to his chest.

"Nida… I…" the man stuttered, shocked.

He cut deep in his wrists. And watched his blood flow free. Washed away with tears. Life draining in rivers.

"It is all true."

"Why?" Squall asked in shock.

"Doesn't the song explain it?"

But someone found him. And back to life he's bound. Chains holding him forever. To his greatest pains.

"Xu found me, cast the cure to heal the wounds and save me."

Squall made a mental note to thank Xu.

"Doc agreed not to tell anyone."

And to yell at Kadowaki.

That's the story of perfection. Poor guy still bound today. Still broken deep inside. And forever that way.

"She should have let me die."

"No she shouldn't have," Squall hissed.

"Don't act like you care Squall. All I am is a pilot and a SeeD."

So here we reach the morale. And what I must tell you. Perfection is the worst curse. And can destroy you too.

"I do care!" Squall protested as Nida stood and retreated to his shelter.

"You lying bitch!" the SeeD shouted and turned on Squall. "You don't care and you sure as hell don't understand anymore. Go back to your Garden, Headmaster, and get the hell out of my face!"

Squall was left staring at the door that had been slammed in his face at the end of the rant.

Nida moved to the bed only when he finally heard Squall's footsteps moving towards what he assumed was his transport. The asian youth had cried silently when Squall had stood outside, pounding on the door and demanding to be let in. He knew he'd said too much, but he wanted Squall to know, someone to know.

Once at his bed he opened his guitar case and removed the most beautiful and prized of his possessions. Carefully he played a few notes, testing the thing for proper tuning. This done he played randomly, letting his mind wander and his heart weep. Squall: the only person who was achingly honest when he said he cared that Nida existed.

Nida loved him for that, and for so many other things. His mind screamed that Squall could help, and his body ached for the touch of the other. Yet his soul held him back. It was broken and ripped to shreds. It was tired of being 'perfect' and even refused to be it for the man he loved.

As his mind turned to his pain, his fingers failed him and played the wrong cord. Quickly Nida dropped the instrument upon the bed, his whole body shaking. Seconds before he had heard Squall's small personal transport take off. Nida had taught Squall to fly the two person transport himself, and he reveled in every second with the man he loved. But now that Squall was gone, and wouldn't be back until he realized that Nida had not returned to Garden like ordered…

Nida rose and moved to the small bathroom. Good thing Squall hadn't been in here. A sharp dagger, confiscated from student who had been playing with it in class, rested on the sink, waiting for him. Today he would finally end it. Two cuts to each wrist, deep and amazingly sure because of how quickly he did this. So simple really, not even a note or tearful goodbye. Only the draining of blood, the relief of his pain, and the cool tingle of cure washing over him. Wait, cure? That wasn't right. There wasn't supposed to be this, not again.

Emerald eyes opened and met eyes that were stormy like a hurricane for their worry.

"Squall," Nida gasped, "You left."

"Autopilot," the SeeD whispered before grabbing the nearby knife and throwing it at the wooden walls. Such was the force behind the throw because of his desperation, the small blade sunk deep into the wood, almost to the hilt.

"Damn," Nida whispered before passing out.

"He'll be fine Squall," came the voice of the doctor through the video communications.

"Why didn't you tell me the first time?"

"I didn't think I had to tell a seven year old Squall about Nida trying to hurt himself."

"That long?" Squall gasped. So many years…

"Yes Squall, that long. Even his most recent attempt was kept from you because I keep the confidence of my patients."

"How many times?" the Headmaster demanded.

"At least once a year I believe, rather close to his birthday. Some years twice, the second time always seeming to occur when you were badly injured or, more recently, when you became 'officially involved' with someone."

"And you wouldn't let me know?" he hissed into the com, careful not to wake the slumbering Nida.

"No Squall, I did not let you know. Will you please get over it and take care of our wayward pilot?"

The Headmaster sighed as Kadowaki terminated the call. Slowly the hero turned to regard his charge. Nida lay on a cot here in the quiet room aboard the Ragnarok. It really made no sense to him. Why would Nida want to die? He was smart, strong, cute and everyone loved him.

But that was it, wasn't it? Nida was 'perfection', and had too much riding on that. It was what everyone wanted and needed. It was expected of him, and Nida needed to comply. Squall knew a bit of these pressures. After the war his every move was inspected. He too had been expected to be perfect. Except, unlike Nida, he told everyone to fuck off.

"Damn Nida, why didn't I realize it? Why didn't you tell me? I would have understood. I would have helped you."

"No, you couldn't understand," Nida replied with a groan, his eyes still closed. The asian slowly sat up. "Where am I?"

"The Ragnarok. I am taking you back to Garden. Doc K wants to check you out in person."

"Why did you come back Squall?" Nida asked.

"I couldn't let you die."