"If Siegfried Kircheis were still alive..." How many characters have voiced this question in the anime? From his colleagues, Reuethal and Mittermeyer, to Hildegarde, Reinhard's wife to Yang Wen-li of the Alliance, one-time enemy...

But what if he had survived the assassination attempt on Reinhard? One little butterfly flapping its wings...yet the changes that it will cause...

Note: Anything that you may recognize comes from the anime. However, in this story, I decided to follow the original novels instead of the anime for one point. Reinhard consciously chose to accept Oberstein's advice of inaction, when news came to him of an impending nuclear attack on Westerland. He was, in effect, an accomplice in the deaths of the two million people on that planet.

Chapter One

September 26th, U.C. 797, I.C. 488

Geiersburg, Hospital Wing, Room 12

The room was silent. On the bed, beneath white hospital sheets, motionless, lay Siegfried Kircheis, High Admiral of the Galactic Empire – not that one could tell from his curly blood-red locks, tanned skin and youthful features. Indeed, Kircheis looked just like the-guy-next-door, albeit a handsome one.

So quiet, so silent, it was just like Kircheis…Reinhard von Lohengramm, Fleet Admiral of the Galactic Empire, Marquis, thought bitterly as he stared at his friend's features, so peaceful in its repose. His friend had always been a calm, gentle advisor, there to smoothly steer Reinhard away from his more thoughtless impulses, whose presence often went unnoticed by everyone; everyone save Reinhard, who knew just how irreplaceable Kircheis was to him. Reinhard wanted to shake him awake, wanted that placid expression gone from his friend's face! He wanted Kircheis to wake up from his coma, even if it meant that they would start arguing again, even if Kircheis would eventually hate him for what he'd done, or in this case, not do, with regards to Westerland. He could live with that, could live with anything, as long as Kircheis was alive and by his side.

Reinhard had not left this room even once since the latter had fallen into a coma seventeen days ago, after he took a blaster wound in his side while wrestling with the would-be assassin. The second laser-beam from the assassin's ring had missed, thank Odin for that, but even with all the advances in medical technology, it was all the doctors could do to keep Kircheis alive – whether he would wake up from his coma, or slip away to Valhalla depended on his will, the doctors had said. But it would be over, one way or another, these few days.

Reinhard reached forth to clasp Kircheis' rather cold hand in his own fair, delicate one. "Wake up, Kircheis. Wake up, that's an order. Wake up, then we can go inform Sister of our victory…" Reinhard might have broken down into sobs at this moment. He recalled the pale features of his elder sister, Annerose, when he had received the intra-galactic transmission in this very room fourteen days ago, the deep sorrow she showed that had struck the very core of him. His sister had not said much, just that he was to inform her of any changes in Kircheis' condition, and that she would pray for them.

I'll pray for you both. That had been the exact words Annerose had used. For she knew how much Kircheis meant to Reinhard, how very much the red-haired man was part of Reinhard. And now…now…Reinhard's thoughts were interrupted when a knock came at the door. "Enter." His voice was frosty as he called out. Who would be so foolish as to interrupt his vigil by Kircheis' bed?!

Ah, of course, his advisor. Paul von Oberstein, the cold, pitiless man with the cybernetic eyes. Indeed, if one looked at it from a certain viewpoint, he was part of the reason why Kircheis was lying in a coma! But Reinhard restrained his anger, as he listened to Oberstein update him on what Reuenthal and Mittermeyer had done on Odin, then insisted that Reinhard take the intergalactic call from Reuenthal in the communication headquarters.

Reinhard was tempted to lash out and refuse, but he recalled Kircheis' last words to him. "Please win the universe, Lord Reinhard." Fine, he would do this for Kircheis. After all, he wouldn't want Kircheis to wake up to find that he had been shirking his responsibilities, would he? However, Reinhard was not leaving the room, and no one could change his mind.

Odin, Fleet Admiral Lohengramm's Admiralty, Communications Room

Thousands of light-years away, Oskar von Reuenthal cursed his luck. The admirals had drawn straws as to who would get the honour of reporting to their liege, and Reuenthal had been the lucky one. Or rather, the really unlucky one.

When the call was patched through, Reuenthal's mismatched eyes widened in surprise as he took in the setting. His liege lord, Reinhard von Lohengramm, was taking the call in… a hospital room? Marquis Lohengramm was sitting on a chair besides the hospital bed, some distance away from the camera. So he has not left Siegfried Kircheis' side since that day then… A quick glance at the hospital bed confirmed Reuenthal's suspicions. He was wise enough however, to say nothing.

"Oberstein has informed me of the situation." Marquis Lohengramm's voice, although as melodious as usual, had a flat quality to it. Reuenthal suspected that it hid impatience. Marquis Lohengramm wanted to be done with this conversation, and quickly.

"Yes, sir," Reuenthal's reply was short, accompanied by a respectful bow. Never let it be said that Oskar von Reuenthal did not know how to respond to the wishes of his liege.

"You'll be rewarded for your distinguished service."

Reuenthal quickly thanked Marquis Lohengramm for that, before moving on to the main point of his call. He informed Marquis Lohengramm that all of the Imperial Prime Minister's family had been apprehended, and asked for further orders.

When Reuenthal heard that the Prime Minister was to be forced to commit suicide, his only reply was, "As you wish." While some might have shirked from the ruthless act, Reuenthal understood the need to eliminate such an opponent cleanly.

When given the order to exile all women and children, and to kill all males over the age of ten, Reuenthal could say that he had been expecting it. It was standard practice after all, to eliminate all possibilities of revenge. He was pleased that even though Marquis Lohengramm was nine years younger than him, he was obviously not averse to getting his hands dirty; Reuenthal knew that a conqueror would not succeed without such resolve.

Reuenthal was rather surprised, however, that Marquis Lohengramm did not just order all males put to death. He asked a question to that effect, and the answer he received would stay with him for a long, long time.

"I was ten when I entered the academy. Until that age, one can't be considered responsible. So I won't take their lives. If when they've grown, they attack me, that's fine. It's to be expected that incompetent rulers are overthrown, you see." There was something chilling about the way Marquis Lohengramm said that, that made Reuenthal glad that he was still maintaining his bow and could not look the latter in the eyes.

The next words out of Marquis Lohengramm's mouth made Reuenthal's heart thump wildly in his chest. "The same goes for all of you. When you're prepared to overthrow me yourselves, come challenge me, I don't care."

Reuenthal's mouth were on autopilot as he made the only response that he could to that. "You jest." Before his brains could catch up however, he heard a small groan. Muffled as it was, his eyes widened as he detected a twitch from the hospital bed.

Marquis Lohengramm however, was seated right beside the patient, and evidently could hear just fine. His reaction was instantaneous. "Kircheis!" So many emotions, all packed into that one word, that Reuenthal felt like a voyeur just listening to his liege say it.

Geiersburg, Hospital Wing, Room 12

In the hospital room, Reinhard had evidently pushed out of his mind the fact that his subordinate was still at the other end of the intra-galactic call. His whole world had narrowed to the hospital bed in front of him, and his red-haired friend lying in that bed. That had not been his imagination had it? Kircheis was waking up, wasn't he?

Grabbing tightly onto his friend's hand, Reinhard squeezed tightly as he waited with bated breath for a sign, any sign of response. After an indeterminable moment that felt like decades to Reinhard, he felt Kircheis' hand twitch. "Kircheis! Can you hear me? Kircheis!"

Fluttering of eyelashes. Chest moving, faster than the slow breaths that Kircheis had been taking during his coma. Another twitch in his hand…and at last, at long last, those eyelids opened to reveal deep blue eyes that were so familiar to Reinhard, eyes that Reinhard thought he'd never see on this side of Valhalla's gates ever again.

"Kircheis!" Reinhard called out again, his voice full of disbelieving joy. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes, so intense were the emotions that Reinhard felt, but he blinked them away. He would not cry, no, he wanted to gaze into Kircheis eyes and see that his friend was alright, and to do that, he needed his eyes to be working at full capacity.

Those deep blue eyes seemed dazed at first, but soon focused on him. "Lord Reinhard…" were the first words that Kircheis whispered, his voice hoarse from disuse and weak from the blaster wound to his side. And it was those words that were Reinhard's undoing.

It was as if a dam had been broken. All of a sudden, his emotions were all over the place and he did not have the ability to keep them in check any longer. "How could you?! How could you do that, Kircheis?! You promised you wouldn't die before me, you promised! I won't let you leave me, ever!"

Kircheis' eyes widened as he took in the crying golden-haired man in front of him, hurting and in so much pain. Awareness slammed into him like acceleration from a spaceship about to make a warp, and he remembered what had put him into the hospital bed. He had almost died? How could he? He could barely picture it; him dying, and leaving Reinhard all alone...

Despite all the issues that undoubtedly lay between them, there was only one way Kircheis could respond to his friend's emotional distress. "I'm sorry, Lord Reinhard. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He put as much strength as he could to that statement even as he squeezed his friend's hand tightly.

At that, Reinhard seemed to regain control of his emotions. Brushing away the tears, he pressed a button that called for medical staff, before frowning slightly. There was something he was forgetting, he was certain of it…

Oh yes, Reuenthal… Reinhard mentally frowned as he thought of how his subordinate had witnessed that private scene. He turned back to the communications system and sure enough, there Reuenthal was. It wasn't Reuenthal's fault, Reinhard knew, for it had been up to him to cut the communications – it was considered highly rude, outside of an urgent battle situation, if the subordinate were to cut off communications on his side, without saluting first.

Reinhard scowled slightly, angry at himself for losing control, but managed to address Reuental with an even voice. "I'll be heading back to Odin when Kircheis has recovered enough for interstellar travel. In the meantime, secure the capital, with force if needs be."

Somehow, Reuenthal managed to keep a straight face as he acknowledged the order. "As you wish."

Odin, Fleet Admiral Lohengramm's Admiralty, Communications Room

As the connection was cut, Reuenthal allowed himself to relax. So Siegfried Kircheis was going to live after all. That was good. It would mean that the golden-haired genius who had became his liege lord would not be...broken. Moments like this reminded Reuenthal how young his liege lord truly was. Twenty-one years old. By Odin, it had been almost a decade since he had been that young!

It was the third time that Reuenthal had witnessed his liege lord being that emotional. The first had been when High Admiral Ovlessor had insulted his elder sister, the second when Kircheis had lay severely wounded from the injury he'd received at the hand of the assassin, and the third...was today. The deep bond between those two…if it were ever broken, by death or otherwise…Reuenthal had witnessed many deaths and knew firsthand how that kind of wound would scar. Scar and never heal…his thoughts turned to his mother, then just as quickly skittered away. No, that was not something he wanted to think about now. In any case, he had things to do, people to talk to. Mittermeyer would want to know that Siegfried Kircheis is awake from his coma.

October 3rd, U.C. 797, I.C. 488

Geiersburg, Hospital Wing, Room 12

A week later, Kircheis was sitting up, cushioned by many pillows, patiently trying to persuade Reinhard to leave for Odin. "You should head back to Odin, Lord Reinhard, to take charge of things. Please don't worry, I'm fine now." His recovery had been speedy, and almost miraculous, according to the doctors, but it would some time before he could travel back to Odin, as warping would be risky in his condition.

Kircheis had been touched when he found out from the chatty military doctor that Reinhard had refused to leave his side while he had been in a coma, despite having an Empire to run in the aftermath of the Lichtenlade incident. Just like old times…It reminded Kircheis of the time when he had been severely wounded at Iserlohn Fortress during the Fifth Battle of Iserlohn, due to the machinations of Marquise Benemunde. At that time, Reinhard had been glued to his side until he had recovered enough to leave the hospital wing.

Stubbornly, Reinhard shook his head. "I almost lost you, Kircheis. I'm not letting you out of my sight. And I brought you your blaster." He turned, indicating the blaster at the bedside table, but did not meet Kircheis' eyes. "You are to carry it with you at all times; that's an order."

Kircheis took the gesture for what it was; an apology that Reinhard could not voice, an apology for Reinhard's action of banning Kircheis from carrying his weapon into the audience hall, which had indirectly resulted in Kircheis' near-death. Reinhard had been that way since they were children; always too proud to say that he was sorry, even if he regretted his mistake. Kircheis had always understood and accepted that, and this time was no different. He shook his head slightly and smiled. "Yes, Lord Reinhard.".

When Reinhard eventually met his eyes, Kircheis said gently, "This was not your fault, Lord Reinhard. Please do not blame yourself for this." And Reinhard avoided his eyes again, perceptively hearing everything else that Kircheis was not saying. They had after all, been each other's only companions for ten years. Each knew how the other's mind worked, knew the other almost better than the other knew himself.

Reinhard got up and paced across the hospital room, his military boots resounding against the hard floor. In the week since Kircheis had awakened from his coma, Reinhard had deliberately kept the topics of conversation light, keeping away from the heavy, guilt-ridden topics like this. But Reinhard was not a coward, never has been one, and so, even if he knew that it would open a can of worms, he would face the subject they had been dancing around. He took a deep breath and turned to Kircheis.

"I took Oberstein's advice, Kircheis. Took his advice about the gun, and all it implied. Tried to think of you as only my loyal subject, tried to throw away years of friendship, all that only because I…" Reinhard found that he could not continue looking into those compassionate, deep-blue eyes of Kircheis.

Reinhard stared, unseeing, into the distance as he continued, "Because I did not want to face you. Because I did not want to be judged by you!" Because I could not bear your disgust and anger at my actions! Silence filled the room, oppressive silence that was almost tangible.

Reinhard clenched his fists tightly as he let it all out, released the maelstrom of emotions that had been building and building for so long ever since he had watched two million people died on Westerland. The next part, the next part was the hardest to say. But Reinhard had never lied to Kircheis before. More than that, he had always told Kircheis everything; how he felt, how he thought, everything.

"I know that my inaction at Westerland cost lives. Two million innocent lives. I'm a murderer, and a monster many times over. If I had to decide all over again…" Reinhard shook his head, his golden curls cascading like waves around him. I don't know what decision I'd have made...

"No, it's useless to talk about such things, because there's no going back. I have to live with that. But…" Reinhard finally met Kircheis' eyes. "I'm sorry that you almost died because of me." But you're still alive, Kircheis. You're still alive and that is all that matters. He was sure that Kircheis could read it all in his eyes, the guilt, the anger, the worry and above all that, the relief.

Kircheis took in everything that Reinhard had said, silently. The only thing that Reinhard had apologized for, straight out, was for almost causing Kircheis' death. That was something that Kircheis had never blamed Reinhard for, for it was his choice. It had always been his choice to stand between Reinhard and anything that would hurt him. Not merely because of his promise to Annerose, but also because Reinhard was his best friend, his liege lord and the person he had promised to follow to the very end of the universe. Half of the pair of golden-haired angels that I have sworn my loyalty to…And with a start, Kircheis realized that even if Reinhard committed monstrous acts that he disagreed with, even if Reinhard became a second Rudolph the Great, even if Reinhard turned out to be a fallen angel, he would still step in the way of a blaster bolt meant for Reinhard. No matter what, I'd still protect and serve Lord Reinhard. Even if it would cost me my soul.

And that realization struck Kircheis to the core. He looked up helplessly at Reinhard and gave the only reply he could. "It was my choice to protect you, Lord Reinhard, and that will always be my choice. No matter what you do, no matter what you become, I will always follow you. Lord Reinhard..." And the joy and exultation that lit up Reinhard's angelic features at that made everything alright for Kircheis. At that moment, even if just for a little while, Kircheis was at peace with himself.

"But, please, you still have to return to Odin first, Lord Reinhard." Kircheis cleared his throat and stated emphatically. There was no way he would allow his own injuries to further delay Reinhard from returning to Odin, especially not when there had been a coup against Marquis Lichtenlade carried out by his subordinates. Kircheis still wasn't sure how he felt about framing and sentencing an innocent man and many of his family to death on trumped-up charges. Marquis Lichtenlade was obstructing Lord Reinhard's way. The other Admirals saw that and took action to clear the obstruction – I can't say that their actions as loyal subordinates were wrong, but… Perhaps that's why Lord Reinhard needs subordinates like Admiral Oberstein; people who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty…

Kircheis put away his self-introspection for the moment. In any case, Reinhard needed to return to Odin as soon as possible, in order to put an end to the chaos and bring about a new order.

Reinhard smiled in response to Kircheis' insistence. "You're always worrying about something, Kircheis. Very well, I'll leave for Odin tomorrow if you promise me something." The jibe was light-hearted and much needed for levity, after that extremely serious conversation.

"What is it, Lord Reinhard?" Kircheis asked, slightly apprehensively. The last time he had been lying on a hospital bed after a near-death experience…

"Promise me that you'll never die before I do." It came out as a command, but there was a hint of pleading desperation in Reinhard's icy-blue eyes touched Kircheis deeply. No matter what, some things never changed. There still remained echoes of that lonely boy hiding behind that façade of arrogance that Kircheis had befriended more than ten years ago. And Kircheis would do anything for that boy. Including making a promise that he was not sure if he could keep, just to reassure his best friend.

"Yes, Lord Reinhard. I promise."

My favourite character: Reinhard von Lohengramm. Will he have an easier time of it now that Kircheis survived his injuries?