Author's Notes: What a bad week. Must blow up people that treat me bad.
Once more the italics are the lyrics I wrote for Nida. The name of this one is 'Breaking'.
The Guardian Scanner is MY idea, as for permission if you, for some ungodly reason, wish to use it.

2sidez-Samecoin: Perfect timing on your part. I needed the reinforcement.

Bradley Scot C.: Well, it is always nice to see the newbies of giving me well deserved appreciation.

Chapter 3

Nida had disappeared from the Infirmary after two days, and Doctor Kadowaki had sent Squall himself out looking. Squall figured that the aviator had fled once more to his hidey-hole, the only place in Garden where they couldn't find him. But, lucky for Squall, the youth's GFs had been taken away and Doctor K had been wise enough to slip a special, harmless chemical that GFs could sense with some help into Nida's blood stream. Had Nida a GF the being would mask or remove the chemical, but as it was…

It wasn't often that Squall used a Guardian Scanner, but it was times like these he was thankful for them. With the device developed in Esthar one could channel magic more effectively. By coaxing a Guardian into the Scanner and placing a scan stone into it, one could use the mixed power to scan large areas for small things… Like searching Garden for the chemical that would lead to the missing Nida.

Squall followed the chime sound given by the scanner, mentally begging forgiveness from Shiva because of her involvement with the abnormal task. Shiva assured him that it was alright as a sound indicated Nida was above him. Squall was in his office and knew of no higher place.

'The wall… Check the wall.' Shiva prompted. Squall started to knock upon the paneling in the office and froze when he heard a hollow sound. Soon Squall had pushed aside the panel to reveal an old lift that was obvious in working condition. Someone took care of this thing… Nida.

Squall shut off the scanner and coaxed Shiva back to her place as a junction. Then he boarded and rode the lift up.

The Headmaster was deposited behind some boxes and machinery, but his sharp eyes easily found the path through. Soon he was climbing over, around and under boxes, moving through the hidden maze. Finally he was free and his eyes came upon the long hidden sanctuary of Nida Nomura. There was a cot nearby, and personal affects like pictures, the SeeD's weapon and his uniform were close to the cot. Yet Nida was not there. The asian youth was, to Squall's surprise, on an outdoor observation deck.

In his lap Nida cradled an acoustic guitar. Around him were pages of sheet music, each bearing different marks donating the instrument part written upon it. In front of Nida was the page for the acoustic guitar and one for vocals. Squall had stumbled upon the younger male composing. From the wrinkled state of the loose t-shirt and pants on him Nida had been there for hours. Still, the male seemed to have allowed himself the small luxury of changing from infirmary clothes to his own clothes.

The male seemed so intent upon his guitar that he didn't notice the Headmaster. Squall noticed him though, the paleness of his flesh, the cloudy eyes, the newest white scars on the inside of his wrists. And despite all of that, Nida was beautiful.

"I saw you, On the worst day, Of my entire life, Didn't know what to say," Nida sang, his voice a sweet tenor, as his hands coaxed beautiful music from the guitar to accompany him.

"You had brown hair, Hangin' down in your eyes, Eyes that held no lies, What more can I say?" the voice continued, the tone confident and joyous. Yet the tone suddenly took a serious turn.

"You wore a frown, Upon your lovely face, And there it had no place, But what could I say? Then it happened, You were smilin', But it was not for me, Yet this I wouldn't see."

'He's in love,' Squall suddenly realized, 'But who is the lucky girl?'

"You were in love, But just not with me, And they were wrong for you, Least that is what I see. My heart was broken, But you didn't know it, So I just let it bleed, Why can't you see?"

'My heart cries for you Nida," Squall thought to himself. 'Was this what drove you over the edge?'

Nida's song grew slower, regretful, wishful and loving all at once, "You were happy, It's good enough for me, Somehow I'll get by, Just don't know why. Someday you'll hear my song, And you'll realize I sing for you, You won't know what to do, So you'll just ask why. Maybe you'll understand, That I fell for you, How will you react, Please don't ask me why."

Squall's heart caught in his throat. Nida wasn't singing this song for some perky brunette girl. Nida was singing for him…

The song grew less wishful now, sorrow starting to fill every word, "I wrote this song for you, To tell you of my love, Because I can't say it, For inside I'm breaking. I love you, Forever and always, But you can't love me back, Can't you see I'm breaking? I say goodbye, Hope not to cry, Find forever that, I'm still breaking. Oh I'm still breaking. Yes I'm still… breaking."

The guitar trailed off with Nida's voice, and a tear slid down his cheek. Squall wanted to run to the pilot's side and hold him lovingly in his arms. But his cold demeanor would not allow for that.

Nida looked up suddenly, his eyes fearful as they met Squall's. The look in Squall's eyes, beyond that ice, was one of pain and longing.

"Squall," he gasped in shock, almost letting the guitar fall from his hands.

"Nida," the Headmaster said, his eyes softening, the ice melting. "That was beautiful."

"How did you get up here?" he demanded.

"Lift."

"How did you find it?"

"Checked my paneling."

"Why?"

"Shiva said so."

"How did she know?"

"Guardian Scanner."

"Why were you using one?"

"To find you."

"Why?"

"Doctor K said you were missing."

"Why did she send you?"

"Because she knew I'd want to find you," the older male spoke, suddenly sure of it himself. "It was a beautiful song. You should be in a band."

"You… You weren't supposed to hear that."

"I figured as much. You're going to have that band, Infinity, sing it, right?"

"How did you guess?"

"The sheet music for the drums, electric guitar, bass, keyboard…" Squall trailed off.

"Oh," Nida said quickly, gathering up the sheets of music. His cheeks were turning distinctly red.

"How many songs have you written for them?"

"The better question is how many do they write for themselves," Nida responded, slowly standing and stuffing the sheet music into a nearby manila envelope and sealing it.

"That many? And they haven't asked you to be part of the band? I mean, their singer is okay and all, but you're better and you write a part for your guitar by they never use it…"

"They want me to join. They leave the part they want me to take open. The music sounds…"

"Incomplete without it?" Squall offered.

"Yeah," Nida said softly, hesitantly, before picking up the guitar and moving to its case by the bed.

"Can I help you with that?"

"Yeah, could you put that envelope in the mail? It has the address and stamps on it already." Nida asked, though he sounded nervous.

Squall nodded and went for the envelope. "So, why don't you join them? Hyne knows you need it, and you seem to want it."

"I have obligations here," Nida responded as he snapped the case closed and stowed it under the bed.

"We can find someone to do it Nida. You should follow your dreams."

"And what if I already am?"

There was silence from both parties until Squall hastily spoke, "How did you find this place, and how long have you been coming here?"

"Five years," Nida supplied, "And I stumbled upon it while trying to get away from my problems. It is so free, it's like I'm really flying at times, and until now, no one has found it."

"Sorry," Squall mumbled.

"It's okay. I guess that if anyone found it, it is better you did than someone else."

Silence once more, before Squall moved up behind Nida and placed a hand on his shoulder. The asian whirled quickly, but the action resulted in him paling further, his eyes looking drained. The man stumbled a step, looking dizzy. Squall swore, realizing that Nida had overtaxed himself and caught the weakened SeeD as he fell. Slowly he lifted Nida and placed the fallen man upon the cot. Then he pulled out a phone to call the Doctor.

Nida awoke in the familiar warmth of his cot, a wet cloth upon his head and the head of a slumbering Squall resting hear his hand. The asian was shocked, and could only assume how this happened. He had probably fainted and Squall had helped him. But how long had he been out?

"Nida," Squall moaned softly in his sleep, his hand reaching across the bed to touch Nida.

The asian blushed and hesitantly ran a hand through the hair of his twice savoir and helper. Squall stirred not long after this, his eyes opening and catching Nida in the act. Yet instead of leaving because of shock and disgust, Squall stayed where he was, even leaning into the contact. Despite the fear, Nida did not shy away, enjoying the chance he had to touch the male he was crazy for. His hand slid down to touch Squall's scar and was amazed that Squall smiled at him. Hyne, what a beautiful smile.

"I hope I'm not dreaming," Nida whispered to himself.

"If you are, then I am too," Squall responded, his smile never wavering. "I was worried about you Nida. You've been out all day. The Doc left hours ago."

"You stayed with me? Why?"

"I wish you'd shared that song with me earlier," the Headmaster whispered, "I didn't know."

"How could you?" Nida questioned, "I'm perfect remember? Perfectly alone."

"Not anymore I would hope."

Nida smiled, "Me too…"