Naruto awoke feeling refreshed. Enjoying the first real night of rest he got since being locked away.

The room he was staying in reminded of his own home. Naruto couldn't help but think of the rich luxuries that he used to take for granted. The elegant clothes and rich food just seemed like they'd always be here. It wasn't until he entered St. Bartholomew's, that the realized just how lucky he had been. Surrounded by all the luxuries he used to be used to. Naruto wished he could stay at the Earl's castle forever.

However, naruto knew that staying here wasn't possible. The story that he told the earl was true…Just not his own. The story about being sold into prostitution was a story he heard from one of the female inmates. Unfortunately, unlike the tale he told the girl did not escape her abductors. Instead she'd gone insane from the whole ordeal.

Naruto was shaken just thinking about it. At least he told the truth about his escape. That was the only part of his story that did happen to him. The gauds took him from his cell to a room behind the kitchen. They both planned on forcing him. Naruto hit the first man over the head while he was undressing. The second waiting outside for his turn. Naruto escaped though the window and kept running till he was safe.

Naruto forced the memories down. He was safe……at least for now. As comfortable as his present situation was, Naruto knew it couldn't last forever. Soon the Earl would find out that there was No vicar in the North Country. At least not any in relation to a Naruto Maki.

Unfortunately, with no money and nowhere to go he wasn't at all looking forward to leaving. But he had no other choice. Facing the Earl when he discovered his lie was something all together more dreadful.

Naruto shivered remembering the look in the Earl's eyes when he mentioned the consequences for lying.

Trying to remain claim naruto headed downstairs. Sasuke Uchiha was waiting for him. There he was sitting in the dining room next to an attractive dark haired woman. Sasuke rouse to introduce theme. "I'd like to introduce my cousin hinata hyuuga, Viscountess Aburame." Naruto bowed and kissed her hand Naruto Maki it's a pleasure.

Hinata smiled. She was a woman in her early thirties with long black hair and pale lavender eyes. Her eyes seemed to hold a world of compassion, as if she could somehow make everything naruto went though all better.

The look of sympathy that was directed at him, made him feel a pang of remorse. For a moment he was reminded of his mother. For a horrifying second he though he might embrace the poor women and blurt out the whole truth.

No. He had to be strong. Putting thoughts of home and family behind him, naruto silently pulled himself together.

"My cousin has told me what happened to you. You poor child. I can't even begin to imagine what you must have suffered" stated his cousin.

"I am only grateful that I happened upon Lord Blackthorn, and that he was kind enough to help me" Naruto stated. He was trying his best not to meet the earl dark eyes.

"But of course he would help. Sasuke is a gentleman. He might seem slightly intimating at first, but once you get to know him you'll discover he's quit harmless."

At his cousin's words Sasuke couldn't help but smirk. "Harmless? Dear cousin that is hardly is hardly a flattering description."

Or correct, Naruto couldn't help but think. The tall powerful black haired man was anything but harmless for that naruto was sure. Again naruto couldn't him to think what would happen when the earl discovered he had tricked him.

No. I'll be gone. He reminded himself. By a week's time I'll be miles away. This thought did nothing to clam himself.

After the meal was finished Lady Ambura insisted they take a stroll in the castles gardens. They talked for hours mostly about themselves. Lady Ambura insisted he call her Hinata. They were quick to becoming fast friends. Hinata talked mostly about her late husband. Naruto tried not to talk much about what had happened. Mostly he talked about his sister and Mother who died eight years ago.

However the talks of family lead him to the unspoken thoughts of his guardian. His father's uncle Orochimaru. Naruto ended up crying in the lady's arms.

Naruto and Hinata soon became fast friends. The past few days naruto's life fell into a routine. He saw the earl only at meals. Usually naruto spent most of his time with hinata or by himself.

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The castle library was extensive and Naruto couldn't help but find himself drawn to it. Among the vast literately selections naruto found a section on medicine. Books from the healing power of herbs to treating wounds. Soon naruto spent his days pouring over these volumes.

On his fourth night in the castle the earl discovered him there. Naruto tried to hide the book he was reading but it was too late. "William Harvey, On the Motion of the Heart and blood of Animals. What on earth would you be reading a book like this? It's hardly fashionable."

Naruto sighed. He was used to the conceding attitude most people had toward his interest in medicine.

"My sister and Mother died of a fever when I was ten. I felt so completely helpless. None of the doctors were able to help them. A few years later I began to study herbs in their use of healing. My interest in medicine is because of that." Naruto told him truthfully hoping he'd understand.

I see said the Earl. Well you are welcome to anything in the library for as long as you stay here. I hope you enjoy your books. With that Sasuke turned to leave.

"Wait, what interests you my lord?" Naruto asked curious.

"Any number of thins actually. I quit enjoy managing my estate. Making various improvements to the land and the ways the crops respond to them. Well, besides that I like to hunt and race horses."

"And what of your wife?" Naruto couldn't help but asking.

"The fact is I'm betrothed to Lady Sakura Haruno.

Naruto gave a faint smile and congratulated him.

"Thank you, Lady Haruno and I have been acquainted for years now. Recently I decided it was time for a wife. My choice was quite clear Lady Haruno is quit Amenable."

Naruto could help but feel shocked. Amenable is not the word he'd use to describe someone he was about to marry. It seemed for the handsome earl this was not a love match.

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A coach arrived the following day. It took all of Naruto's willpower not to rush to the door. Instead he stayed with hinata and listened to her tales of Sasuke and his brother in their childhood. Her words stopped at the sound of voices in the hall.

"That must be Lady Haruno and her Mother they visit quit often."

The tension drained from naruto. Nobody he knew, he was still safe.

"I should have mentioned them. But I had hoped they would not come. All they do is talk about the wedding plans and useless gossip. It's all a pack of nonsense, but poor Sasuke indulges them. I'm sorry to say this; but the girl is nothing more than ribbons and fluff.

He will rue the day he binds himself to that women. And I've told him of so on numerous occasions.

With a dreadful sigh Hinata lead him to Lady Haruno and her mother. He was introduced as friend from York. When the question to his appearance was asked. Naruto was shocked to say the least at meeting the Earl's fiancée. She seemed to be a selfish and spoiled girl. Having spent the entire time she was there complaining about every little detail at the wedding.

Having met Lady Haruno, Naruto knew that Hinata was right. Sasuke was dooming himself to an unhappy marriage.

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Sasuke couldn't sleep. All night long he kept dreaming of the dirty unkempt boy who hidden in the back of his coach. The dream would then switch to naruto how he is now. Looking like an angel in shining golden light holding medical books he shouldn't know anything about. Books on Blood vessels, arteries and physical anatomy. It just didn't make sense.

Something was missing. What piece of his story did he leave out? How much was left unsaid. Sasuke's instincts told him that naruto was telling only half the truth.

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Sasuke got up, unable to sleep. When he saw the dim light coming from the library. There he was sitting in the dim light of a candle the object of his dreams. He looked so heartbreak innocent while pouring over more medical books.

Sasuke was about to question why he was up in the middle of the night but stopped when he noticed something he shouldn't of.

Naruto was dressed in a thin rob, exposing a good deal of his tanned throat and chest. The rob rode up giving Sasuke a glimpse of the boys well rounded legs and high arched feet.

Cursing himself for the sudden attraction he began to feel. Sasuke left the room unspoken and when back to his chamber for torturous dreams.