Three Weeks Earlier

It was a difficult decision but time was running out and he had to know, had to act. If Wufei - or Quatre, or Trowa - thought about their troubles in the other world they never mentioned it, but Treize couldn't simply sit back and not worry about what was happening. He was waging a war, and he needed all the extra time he could get to plan strategies for the final battle looming on the horizon. And if he could act here to affect things there, then all the better.

Treize wasn't entirely sure how the idea had entered his mind, though he knew the when - Quatre had mentioned something about Milliardo being aboard the Peacemillion - causing him to recall that particular night and the conversation they'd had. He hadn't spoken to Milliardo himself, he'd been too busy, but Treize knew him well and he could guess at what was to come.

Treize foresaw two possible ways to end the war - his death, or Milliardo's. Everything, however, hinged on one single question: did dying in one world meant you died in the other?

Treize had never had the need to hire a shadow child before so he wasn't sure how it was done. There was Duo, but Treize had no way of contacting him directly and he didn't want to get him involved. He knew clients of his who had used them before so he asked around and got the information he needed.

It was in that way he found himself meeting with one of them in a private room at one of the nicer restaurants in the city. Treize knew he had absolutely nothing to be afraid of - he had the coin, after all, not to mention his magic - but that did not stop him from being nervous. Even as a shadow child, and someone he had never met before in either world, Duo had seemed fairly... harmless, and he suspected anyway that Duo was not the norm as shadow children came. That became even more apparent now that he had reason to meet another of them.

The shadow child did not say anything when he came in and sat down, and Treize assumed that it - he couldn't assume anything but - knew why he was there and no explanation was needed.

"This may seem an odd request, but I need someone killed. Not odd for that, of course," he rambled a bit in his nervousness, "but because I don't exactly know who they are, or where they might be found." As he said this he realized that it really wasn't so odd after all - like someone who had done him wrong, but he had only seen their face and didn't know his name. They probably got requests like this all the time, so of course they would be able to find him. "I know that he's a man of rank - a count, I believe he said - and in his mid-twenties. He's tall, about two inches taller than I am, with blue eyes and extremely long, pale hair." Being unsure whether he went by Milliardo or Zechs in this world, Treize left out a name, and he hoped his description was correct. "That's really all I know, and not for certain. I also need this done as soon as possible, as soon as you can find him. Within a week, or maybe two at the most. Is that possible?"

"We will find him and take care of him for you," the shadow child replied, and Treize was oddly shocked to hear a female voice emanating from behind the veil. Their loose black robes belied nothing of gender. He had not thought that there were female shadow children as well; but then again, the healers - their antithesis - did not train women, and shadow children were usually thought of as genderless anyway.

"And the price...?"

"There will be an added fee for the search," she replied.

"That's fine."

She named a figure. Whatever shadow children were, they weren't cheap, but he did trust them to get the job done. "You've brought the down payment?"

Treize counted the coins out onto the table for her to see. When he was finished, she gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"You will be contacted when we find him to confirm his identity, and then for the remainder of the payment when it has been done."

That was all; Treize left hurriedly, eager to get outside again into the light and fresh air and away from there. It wasn't until he'd gone almost two blocks that he stopped and took a deep breath. They would find Milliardo, kill him, and what happened then would decide how the war ended.

Four days later, Treize went to his study after lunch to get to work and saw that someone had been there. The envelope on his desk was blank, no name or address, and he stared at it for a few moments while he tried to decide if he should ask Trowa or his housekeeper who had brought it to the house.

Treize decided he didn't want to know, and sat down to open it. Inside was only a small photograph, and a note; the confirmation she had spoken of. He barely had to glance at the photo to see that yes, it was Milliardo. The note instructed him to draw an X on the photo if it was the wrong person, or to leave it alone if it was correct; and where to deliver the envelope.

He could have sent Trowa out with it, as he trusted him not to open it, but he would rather not have any of them involved so Treize went out himself on the pretense of seeing a client.

By tomorrow he would have his answer.

The next day Treize returned to pay the remainder of the price for the assassination, and then he sat back and waited for night when he could return to the other world and see what had happened. He promised himself that because time seemed to flow differently in the two worlds he would give it a few days there to make sure, especially since things were so uncertain with the emergence of the White Fang.

It took only two more days for Milliardo to do exactly the opposite of dying: he took over command of the White Fang and declared war on Earth. Treize wasn't sure if this was because Milliardo was pissed about dying in the other world or if he would have done it anyway, but he wasn't about to ask him and reveal his involvement - though he figured Milliardo would suspect him anyway.

Treize went about it in one of the only ways he knew how - he challenged Milliardo to a duel in space. The stage was set for the final battle, and he moved himself about the chessboard expertly.

"This is Treize Kushrenada, the World Nation's sovereign. I wish to challenge Milliardo Peacecraft, leader of the White Fang, to a duel! I am eagerly awaiting your reply. Let me remind you that the decision you make will also be interpreted as your solution to this war."

"My answer... is no," Milliardo replied. Treize had expected as much, that his opponent - and former friend - would not be persuaded to end this so easily. "I'm not an OZ soldier. Chivalry is meaningless to me. I'm supporting the people's wish for a revolution! We can't decide the destiny of the colony's citizens with a simple duel!"

"I see. You've made the right choice."

"Treize! We will eliminate everyone who stands in our way!"

"Milliardo. As you're aware, the Earth is backing us. We will not retreat, because I love the Earth!" Treize declared in response. A duel would have been his preferred choice, but he'd planned for several different contingencies so it did not worry him yet.

"That's the Treize I know," Milliardo said with a smile.

"By the way... since I have you attention and it seems things are about to get hostile, may I offer you a bit of advice first?"

"You can offer, but I probably won't listen."

"I know very well that you intend fire your main cannon at me, and I do not intend to dodge it or back down. Take that how you will - but on the off-chance that you miss..."

"I won't," Milliardo interrupted.

"But if you do, feel free to tell Wufei about that night we... spoke together. I'm sure that would be enough to get him to come after me for you," Treize said with a humorless laugh as he charged toward Libra, alone.

"Prepare to fire the main cannon! Set the target to the general's suit and MO-2!"

Treize smiled, and continued towards his death. He hoped Milliardo would not miss, and he was completely ready to throw himself into the range of the cannon's fire if it was close enough, but he had to cover all his bases just in case something unexpected happened, like a malfunction. He'd sown the seeds; it was up to Milliardo to reap them - and for the Gundam pilots to clean up afterwards.

"If you kill me now, you'll have earned your victory. Go ahead and fire! For the peace of Earth and space!" Treize challenged him.

"My enemy is the Earth, and you're its representative, Treize!"

Treize continued to charge forth as the cannon fired, and he readied himself for the end... only to be thwarted by the sudden appearance of Lady Une in the Wing Gundam, who pushed him out of the way. Such was his shock that he had no time to get back into the cannon's blast range; he could only watch as the cannon took down a good portion of his soldiers and grazed MO-2. Back-up plans were handy to have after all.

"Lady... why did you do that?" He was more bemused then angry, at the moment; after all, he was still alive - and this meant that, if Milliardo listened to his advice, then Wufei would be his final opponent after all.

"One must fight the battle to understand its beauty," Une replied. Treize smiled, and agreed; a duel with Wufei would certainly be more beautiful a spectacle than getting shot down by an emotionless cannon blast.

He gave his order. "Attention all units: destroy Libra!" They spread out at his command, and began the intricate dance of battle.

End Flashback