Disclaimers: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing nor it's characters. It's a loan.

Warnings: Shounen-ai, OOCs, AU (what else do I write?), gloomy Duo (sorry, can't help it for now)

Author note: I am sooooooooo sorry about yesterday's mix up with the chapters. One should be forgiven for trying to update with their eyes half closed at midnight on a weekday. Sorry once again.

This is the real chapter. Enjoy.

Circle of Destiny

Part 5

Duo went through each stall, touching the silken nose of each animal who nuzzled his caresses contentedly. He laughed, delighted. The horses were stamping their feet, trying to get his attention, and he was kept busy for a while, soothing the tempers of stallions, mares and geldings alike. It had been a long while since he was able to work with anything alive. Most of the time he had been carrying out hard labour or working in the fields, but he was never assigned stable duty.

At the end, in the deepest, darkest part of the dusty stable was a large stall where a massive steed rested. Duo's feet took him to it and as he neared, he was shocked to discover a pure white stallion. He was beautiful, deep chested and a proud arch to his graceful neck. He also had a really bad temper if the threatening grunts and stamping of his feet were anything to go by.

"Be careful with that one," Master Trowa warned with some alarm. "That's Wing, the king's steed and he absolutely hates it if anyone else touches him."

A wide smile creased Duo's generous lips as he approached the stallion. "He's just a big pussy cat, aren't you?" He almost laughed as the horse snorted in affront, and started stamping his feet again, tossing his head in annoyance. He gnashed his teeth threateningly at Duo's approaching fingers, but the slave kept a soft litany of cooing. Wing nipped Duo's fingers playfully, but the slave knew the horse meant him no harm. He just had an ego and a reputation to maintain as the nastiest stallion in the stables. Duo chuckled softly as the stallion melted under his tender hand. He stroked the silken nose as Wing whinnied in pleasure. His hand wandered further down his neck, scratching at the spots the stallion told him was itching.

He heard Master Trowa gasped in shock at the placid countenance of the normally vicious stallion. Apparently, only the king can touch this temperamental steed without getting his fingers snapped off.

"He's a beautiful creature, isn't he?" Duo continued his praise.

"What are you doing!" A horrified yell came from another part of the spacious stalls.

Duo instantly backed away from the horse, much to his displeasure as Wing started kicking furiously at the low door. He lowered his gaze as he edged closer to Quatre and his master for protection. He had learnt early in the game that any raised voices directed at a slave invariably meant whipping at the end of it.

"Dermail," Trowa barked, noting Duo's distress.

The stable master halted in front of the Court Steward and bowed respectfully. "Lord Trowa, are these the new slaves?" He stared appraisingly at the longhaired one. The stable master had seen him touch Wing, the nastiest stallion he had ever encountered and seen the horse quiver under his hand like a puppy. This was no ordinary young man if he could reduce the proud stallion to a puddle of mush in seconds.

"Yes, he is. This is Duo and he will be assigned to stable duty from now on."

Two pairs of shocked eyes shot to him.

"What about Quatre?" Duo asked, a tremor present in his voice.

"He is to be my body slave," Trowa announced, not sure himself when he decided it. He woke this morning fully intending to keep the brothers in the same duty, knowing the blond would find comfort in keeping close to his brother. As the day progressed, he realised with a painful jolt he wanted Quatre tending to him, to be in his room. To wake up and see that little blond head hunkered in front of his fireplace, stoking the embers, the morning sun glistening off his naked pale skin.

Wait a minute…

"What?" Quatre whispered, the blood draining from his face as he stared at Master Trowa in complete horror. Had he been completely wrong about his master? He had judged Master Trowa to be a kind hearted man, decent and fair. But he had recognised the hunger in those emerald eyes a while ago, the same hunger in many of his previous owner's eyes, before they ravaged him senseless, leaving him usually in pain and in a pool of his own blood. For the times when his owners were women, it hadn't been any better. They had their own form of torture as well but for them, most of the times it involved mind games. Those twisted the reality and sanity of Quatre's mind, leaving him even more violated that the physical variety meted out by men.

Hearing the tortured whisper torn out of Quatre and the despair in those aquamarine eyes, Duo snapped. He launched himself at his master and grabbed him by the collar. "Touch him in any way, and I will kill you," he promised, death written clearly in his eyes, ignoring the warning yell from the stable master.

"Duo," Quatre grabbed his brother, fearful that his master would decide to punish his brother for this. "It's alright. It's okay."

Master Trowa took a step back and cleared his throat forcefully. "I would never hurt Qua… a slave like that. The only kind of bed partner I want is a willing one." That sounded like a promise. "However, I do need someone to tend to my personal needs other those that involve carnal acts of pleasure." He gazed intently at Duo. "Clear enough?"

Duo remained a little unsure, but nodded anyway. He didn't know what this young nobleman had in mind for his brother. There was attraction there, no doubt about it, but there was sincerity in everything Trowa had said so far. Still, he hooked his arm around his little brother and gave him a hug. He stepped back and watched the tall nobleman steer his brother toward the castle, unable to banish the odd feeling of dread that built in his chest. He saw so many similarities between this relationship and the mistake that was his own so many years ago. He worried for his, in his opinion, naïve and still rather impressionable younger brother. Despite years as a slave, Quatre still retained his innocence and his unfailing belief in all that was good in everyone. Nothing could wash the wide eyed wonder from those sea blue eyes and Duo strove to ensure that nothing ever will.

"He won't be hurt, Duo," Wufei muttered softly.

Duo started. He didn't even hear the silent steps of the warrior coming up behind him. He sighed deeply. Wufei had apparently elected himself to be his guardian. But then who would be his brother's? They were both at risk here in this foreign place.

"While Trowa is many things, he is honourable. He wouldn't hurt your brother for anything in the world," Wufei assured the still silent man, whose shoulders were disturbingly slumped. The warrior had never seen this Elite this dejected before, this defeated. He was their final hope and he had to be what he once was again. The light in their night. Whatever happens, Duo must survive, he must be saved from himself.

"Why are you here?" Duo muttered in a low tone, walking back into the stables. He was very much aware of the stable master staring at their curious interaction. What was a slave doing with the Weapons Master? More accurately, what was the Weapons Master doing, protecting a lowly slave?

Wufei snapped to attention, as one would a superior, though, in Kyrin, he was no one's subordinate, save the King and even then, others thought it was more from his suffering that any form of true allegiance pledged.

"I am here to protect you, my…" The Eastern man cut himself off, casting a surreptitious look at Dermail who was staring with interest.

Duo resisted the urge to growl at Wufei's loose tongue. He exhaled slowly and turned away from his protector, effectively ignoring him. "Master, this would be where I carry out my duties now?" He asked Dermail quietly.

The Stable Master nodded mutely before belatedly remembering his position and started firing instructions in Duo's directions. What he should do, what he shouldn't do, what must be done, so on and so forth. Wufei stood by, feeling his heart clench at the once proud Elite standing there so dejectedly, listening to this man ordering him around. Once done, a rake and a bucket were shoved into the long haired man's hands and he was ordered to clean the stables up. Obediently, Duo started raking the animal waste from the ground. Wufei could only stare in disbelief, remember the defiance of this Elite in the past and how he would stand up to the warriors who threatened to squish his cheeky blond younger brother. Admittedly, Quatre had been very much of a rascal in the past, teasing the warriors as much as he enjoyed tweaking the tails of animals of prey in the forest. While the brothers were respected, a warrior's pride was nothing to be trifled with and many a time, he had complaints from his men about throwing Quatre into the nearest body of water. It was usually the older and more level headed Duo that stepped in to tease the sullen frowns away, allowing them to see the rather scant humour in the situation before hitting his brother upside the head and dragging him away by the ear.

This… person now mucking the stalls was a poor shadow of that memory. Gone was the spirited glint in violet eyes, his once proud bearing now reduced to a marked slump in the shoulders and the once almost incessant chattering mouth was resolutely closed. No, Wufei didn't know this person before him. However, he had laid the foundation of releasing Duo, his brother and all their kindred who sought sanctuary here by his order. He had raised a good king who would end the pain slavery brought and bring a new lease of life to those caught in the snarl.

"What are you doing here, Wufei?" Dermail asked, more curious that irritated at Wufei infringing on what he thought was his domain. The two had a rather amicable relationship. Either didn't bother with the other's affairs. However, Wufei was doing just the opposite in this case and Dermail felt he had the right to know.

Wufei leaned against a stall, absently stroking a gelding that wandered over, nuzzling his shoulder for attention and the occasional treat. "The new slave. They both seemed to be favourites of Lord Barton. I just wanted to make sure no harm came to them."

Dermail grinned in understanding. "Aah, you want him as your bed warmer as well but the wife is in the way?"

The glare levelled at the Stables Master could have pulverised rock. "Do not interfere in things you have no comprehension of. I will not meddle in your domain. I am here to make sure he is safe that's all." He spoke in a low, menacing tone that warned Dermail he meant business. He wouldn't attack a man who had no way of defending himself, no matter how much he deserved it. It just wouldn't be honourable.

"Are you saying that I would harm him?" Unfortunately, the Stables Master decided to take what Wufei said the wrong way. His voice rose in affront.

Duo's head lifted at the sound of angry voices and immediately shrank into a corner. He dropped his rake and fled into Wing's stables, cowering under the stallion for protection. He had learned a long time ago that angry voices meant pain. When angry voices were around, hide. And he hid, cowering like a rat. He hated himself, he hated what he had become. He had lost every single ounce of pride and everything that made him alive. He hugged his knees close to his chest, rocking himself, trying to be as small as he could.

"Please, don't hurt me, don't hurt me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Why couldn't he die? Why didn't anyone allow him to die? He stared at the old faded lines across his wrists. His moment of weakness, his times of forgotten vows. The times he broke his promise to his brother, that he would stay strong and return to his family. Why couldn't he just die?

Wufei turned at the sound of scrambling and saw the Elite running to hide in the King's stallion's stall. "Damn," he muttered, taking off after Duo.

The large horse seemed to have taken a liking to Duo and was now protecting him, rearing on its hind legs. Wufei had to dodge the deadly hooves as Dermail shouted out a warning.

"What the hell happened?" Dermail pulled Wufei out of the way of the descending hooves.

"I don't know," Wufei tried once again to get to Duo, only to be pushed back by a shrieking horse. "Duo, please, come out from there. You can get hurt!" The panicking horse wouldn't allow Wufei any closer as it continued to buck, its legs kicking frantically at the side of the stall. Wufei noted while the stallion seemed crazed, it was taking pains to avoid hurting the cowering, shivering, thoroughly terrified Duo. He backed up a little, pulling Dermail along with him. Wing instantly calmed a little, snorting at the two of them in warning. It was as if the horse was reacting to Duo's panic and protecting him. Or, it could sense how deadly Duo could be when pushed over the edge. While looking for all the world like a lost waif, Wufei could see a wiry strength radiating through that thin body. When backed into a corner, Duo could and would lash out. Wufei had, in the short time Trowa acquired the two Elites, found out as much he could of their past only to be distressed to receive information that Duo had been known to kill his owners when threatened. Some of them had just disappeared. Among the slavers, Duo had been a curse more than a prize. No one wanted to be in possession of him and was more than willing to let him go at a reduced price, except for that greedy leech Mueller.

"We need to get him out. Wing will trample him to death," Dermail argued, straining against Wufei's restraining arm.

"No, the horse is trying to protect him," Wufei tried to back them both as far away as possible, noting that Dermail's cries had brought an audience, which was effectively riling up the horse again.

"Calm the King's steed and get that slave out of there!" Dermail screamed at his assistants who surged to action.

One of them grabbed a rope and proceeded to lasso the rearing head of the stallion.

Wufei ran forward with them, trying to make them stop. He knew instinctively that this was a bad idea and a huge mistake. There was something shaking in his very bones that spelled disaster. It was as if terror was rising from the very depths of his soul and spreading out to the land. The pandemonium erupted even more when Wing's struggling cracked the stall of his stable.

"Noooooooooooooo…" Duo screamed, covering his ears from the sound of angry, screaming men.

Suddenly, everyone surrounding the stables flew backwards, landing on their backs. Wufei landed with a thud and laid there winded for a while. What in all that was holy happened? As fast as the attack came, it ended just as abruptly. The Weapons Master didn't even see where it came from. He moaned softly, lifting his head, realising with some panic that he had lost sight of Duo. To his utter shock, he found the long haired slave, still curled under Wing, who had a distinctively smug look on his equine face. Both of them were unharmed. The air around Duo shimmered for an instant, providing Wufei with a split second glimpse at the Elite without his glamour. Magic, Duo was using magic. But Duo wasn't supposed to be able to use magic, not anymore.

Worry gnawed at him as he finally understood the last part of the report regarding Duo. If Duo was still able to wield such power, albeit rather uncontrolled, then his former masters didn't disappear. They were reduced to nothing in the face of his fear. That meant Duo had to be kept calm under all circumstances or he could very well destroy the entire Kyrin at the blink of an eye. But how? Their kind had been severely weakened but yet… True that Duo had been raised a Master, but without it, even Quatre was powerless, and the blond was next in line to being the Master.

"Duo," Wufei called out calmly, not wanting to spook the high strung horse anymore. "Please, come out of there, no one is going to hurt you." He held out his hand to Duo, who seemed to be coming to himself a little.

"Warrior?" Duo whispered, a little confused. "What am I…" He blinked, realising where he was and what had happened.

"Come, Duo, I promise, no one will hurt you. On my honour."

"I did it again, didn't I?" Duo whispered brokenly, guilt written on every line of his face.

Wufei winced. Again. This wasn't the first time. He had killed before. Wufei couldn't imagine the guilt laying in Duo for taking a life. The Master revered life in every form and to take one so wantonly was possibly damaging his soul to the very core. "It's alright, Duo. Please, reach for me, come out. Wing is not very happy with us right now, but he won't hurt you."

Duo's expressive eyes darted uncertainly, not wanting to give up the safety the stallion could provide. It was odd, but Wing made him feel secure. It was a very familiar feeling but the memory was a fleeting one.

"Come," Wufei continued to coax, silently debating with himself if it was safe to crawl into the stall to drag Duo out. He inched closer and instantly backed off when the huge animal threateningly stomped near his hand, missing by mere inches.

It was a warning. Wufei couldn't speak to animals, he had not the talent but he understood enough of them to respect when they decide to show their displeasure. Wing didn't want anyone to touch Duo and that was final.

"Get the hell out of there!" Dermail, ego bruised by having the once obedient Wing, at least with him only, throw such a temper tantrum, yelled at Duo. He wasn't about to let a slave upstage him. While the King strictly forbid whipping of slaves, there were other ways to punish them. Of course, he learned in that split second that yelling at Wing was a disastrous mistake. Once again, the stallion surged to anger, bucking wildly within the small confined space.

"Dermail, you idiot," Wufei cursed, at a loss of how to get Wing to calm down. He noted angrily Duo was once more cringing in the corner again, a dazed look returning to his expression.

Suddenly a sharp whistle pierced the air. Wing immediately settled down, calming and stared expectantly at the entrance.

Thank the Spirits for Heero, Wufei thought. The only one that could command Wing in this manner was Heero. He sighed as a very angry King stalked into the stables.

"What is going on here?" Heero asked, his expression set in stone.

XXxxXX

Duo huddled behind the stallion while it threatened to knock down the once sturdy wood panels. He couldn't believe how low he had sunk to be afraid of raised voices. But after years of 'training', it was difficult not to be.

Wing was sending a steady stream of words of comfort to him even as he set his mind to protect this one little insignificant slave that sought refuge in his stall. Why this horse bothered Duo would never know, but there was something hauntingly familiar about this steed. It was as if he met an old friend. Years on enslavement had dulled his memory of the past and he just couldn't place where he had seen Wing before. If he hadn't met Quatre, he doubted he would be able to remember all that he was past the very sketchy details.

The shouting continued around him. He could hear the Stables Master yell out indignantly. Duo almost moaned out loud, knowing his next round of punishment would come from this man.

Through all the chaos was when he heard a sound shot a stream of pure dread through his entire body.

That whistle. It was so hauntingly familiar. Shaking the detachment off, Duo scrambled from under the now docile stallion, looking in the direction of a new arrival.

"What is going on here?" The stranger asked, his voice cold.

Duo's breath got caught in his chest. That mess of hair, those piercing blue eyes, the voice that could be as warm as a summer's day. Even when he lied through his teeth. He stumbled back, his knees feeling weak. He thought he was ready, he knew since it was here, there was a big chance…

He felt his breath coming raggedly. Memories long buried pushed themselves to the surface, crowding his head, screaming for him to remember. To remember the lies, the betrayal, the abandonment.

A strong presence was suddenly beside him. "Duo, what's wrong?" Wufei asked urgently, holding him by the crook of his arm.

Something bubbled out of him, crashing against his chest. He saw red. Pushing Wufei aside with a strength he thought he wasn't capable anymore, Duo stalked up to the stranger, yet not and punched the messy haired man.

Hard.

"You bastard!"

tbc.