My name is Asami Kururugi. I am the daughter of former Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi and sister of Warrant Officer Suzaku Kururugi, former Knight to Princess Euphemia li Britannia. I love him, but all the while I begrudge his decision to fight for Britannia in hopes of making things peaceful again. How could someone truly believe living under the cruel Britannian Empire was any better than our nation before it all?

This is my story, my grudge, my twisted life. It all began when our father died, slain by my brother's own hand.

I was only 9 years old, and it was terrifying.

Standing outside the small, quaint house, I crouched down as sobs racked my body. Father was shouting at my big brother and I wanted it to stop, but I couldn't do anything out of fear. It had a vice grip on me, so I had just cried and run off—after Suzaku stabbed him. When I heard my father stop shouting, and his large body hit the ground, I was paralyzed. But then I screamed, a scream in sync with my brother's, and I was off as fast as my tiny legs could take me.

I tired fairly fast, and passed out somewhere, I don't remember where exactly. When I woke up, I found myself in the care of a Britannian soldier, along with my older brother, who looked as if he hadn't slept for a single minute, and as if he had seen war...which funny enough, happened not long at all after that.

The soldier asked if we had anywhere to go and Suzaku violently shook his head. Even then I understood his reluctance. I wouldn't have gone back to that house for all the power in the world. So the soldier pulled some strings and we were provided housing by the Empire, for some odd, unexpected reason. It really felt like they were good, back then. But the years passed, and when Suzaku turned 15, he began some sort of training for something he wouldn't tell me about. When all of those practices and lessons were over, he confided that he was going to fight for the Empire.

"But why, big brother? Aren't they the bad guys?"

"No, Asami. Why would you think that?"

"Because they're killing all the Japanese. We're Japanese. I don't want you to be hurt, and if you fight you'll be hurt."

He smiled. "We're honorary Britannians now. And I won't get hurt at all. I think they're considering allowing me to pilot a Knightmare Frame. At least to get a feel for it."

All I could do was look down at my feet with an uneasy feeling. It wasn't until I was 15 that I began to feel rage rumbling and attempting to gain its freedom in the form of what would be considered by the soldiers merely teenage rebellion.

On my 15th birthday, I was visited by the sight of a bright red-haired guy. He looked about my age, but at the same time almost ageless. I say visited; in reality he was standing across the street as I walked alone, staring right at me. I looked away for a moment, and in that instant he managed to sneak up behind me.

"Boo," he whispered.

I whirled around, tensing up. "Wh-what do you want? If it's money, you can have it-"

"No, no. That's not it at all." He grabbed my arm and pulled me into an alley. "I've seen you here a couple times. I get the feeling you must lead a rough life to always be alone, and you look pretty sad as well."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Don't make stupid assumptions about a girl you've been stalking, you creep."

"I'm not a creep. I'm just an immortal being who possesses the ability to grant you a power to change your position."

"Yeah, right."

His expression was rather impassive, but his lips turned up in a small smirk. "It's true. If you're looking for someone to thank, you can call me N.N."

My eyes widened as he grabbed my hand and images flowed through my mind. When it was over I felt stronger somehow. Had he really given me some kind of power? This N...2... "So...what can I do? Melt steel? Move things with my mind?"

"Concentrate on someone to figure that out." I of course looked at him, and he laughed, probably having expected it. "It won't affect me."

So I glanced over at a scowling woman heading out of a shop. She screeched and fell to her knees. I lost my focus in surprise. The woman wobbled back up slowly, looking around, and I paid her no more attention. "I can hurt others? That's my power?"

"Isn't there anyone you want to see in pain? The Emperor, perhaps?" I stared him down evenly, but he was right. If I had the chance, I would cause that tyrant so much pain... He continued, "I'll need to be with you now, to see this contract through. Lead the way, my dear."

"Wait, come home with me? I've barely just met you! And don't call me that."

"What shall I call you, then?"

I hesitated, but thought it only fair to give him my name in exchange for this power, despite the fact that he hadn't given me a real name. Did he really go by his initials? "Asami. Asami Kururugi."

"Well then, Miss Kururugi, shall we?"

"I can't take you to my home!" I sputtered.

"Why not? Is a person who gave you a powerful ability not trustworthy enough? Without me our contract cannot be fulfilled."

"What contract?"

"That is rather classified."

"I-it's a contract! I deserve to know what I signed up for-!"

He chuckled. "Most people never completely figure out what it is they sign up for. However I assure you you'll be fine whether or not you know."

"...All right. I'm sure there's some stupid consequence if I don't let this contract be finished, isn't there?" I sighed. "Follow me. You'll have to hide, my brother wouldn't take too kindly to a strange guy in my room."

"Brother, I'm home." Silence greeted me and my new companion, if you could call him that. I led him into my room. "He's never here when I want him to be..."

"Sounds like your brother is quite the reliable one."

I rolled my eyes. "A reliable traitor is more like it."

"Oh?"

I looked away, irritation giving way to the start of a headache. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Very well."

"Asami?" Suzaku's voice floated closer. "Was that someone else I just heard with you?"

"We've got two options," I said quietly. "You can hide or we can tell him so we don't have to worry about keeping you a secret."

N.N. raised his eyebrows, still impassive. "Wouldn't it best to keep me a secret?"

"I suppose so. Get in the closet quickly."

Suzaku poked his head around the doorframe as N.N. slid into the closet silently. "I thought I heard someone in here..."

I smiled and shook my head. "Nope, just the TV." Which I had flipped on and paused faster than I would have on any other day, considering my dislike for the programs meant for Britannian viewers.

"I see. Well, I have a surprise announcement to make, so why don't you come out and I'll make us some dinner?"

"Brother, you know you don't have to cook for us all the time..." Especially considering you sometimes burn the food, I thought, mentally laughing.

"It's okay, I like it. It makes me feel less horrible for never spending time with you."

Maybe if you weren't off fighting on the wrong side, you'd be able to acknowledge me more, huh? If you really were accepting of a "peaceful" future under their rule, you wouldn't be fighting at all, would you?

I forced another smile, softening my glare as I remembered my new power with alarm. As much as I disagreed with him, I would never hurt him. He was all I had left in this dying world.