CHAPTER 9

"Now Ravel be-",

"Ravel, who is that person?" Naruto momentarily froze when he heard that voice coming from behind him. He knew that voice all too well. Ravel slightly panicked before Naruto signed her to be silent with a smile.

The footsteps neared them,

"Is he your friend? Care to introdu-", the words stuck in Lord Gremory's mouth as soon as he caught the glimpse of Naruto's face from the side. His eyes widened and slightly watered, before slowly looking at his face. The tears which were struggling to fall down did in an instant,

"S-son...?"

"H-hi dad..."

Lord Phenex slowly kept his shaky hands on Naruto's shoulders before pulling him into one big hug. Ravel, was clearly shocked, and tears started forming in her eyes as well. The person she thought wouldn't waver under any situation or keeps his calm every time, her father is in tears. On the other hand, Naruto was struggling to keep a calm face, which the lump in his throat is not helping. Lord Phenex pulled back and smiled with a slight sad look,

"Took you long enough to come back. Are we that forgettable to you, son?"

Naruto couldn't answer him back nor could stop his hurt expression. And just when he was about to speak out,

"HA! Got you this time! This was for all the pranks you played on in your childhood!", Lord Phenex laughed at Naruto whose expression was, " he got me". Ravel could only watch in shock but also laugh a little, at how jovial her dad is to her older brother. Of course, he spoils her a lot, but these kinds of talks and jokes were never a part of it.

It took a few seconds for Naruto to understand what his stepdad did there, and when he did, he could only smile in at his antics,

"Well, you've got me there dad. Aging like a fine wine are we?"

"That we are my son", Lord Phenex smiled and then kept his hands on Naruto's shoulders,

"Glad you're ok and back son. This house missed you"

Naruto smiled,

"It's good to be back dad. But before we could talk further..... where is she?"

Lord Phenex was confused for a second before realizing, "She spends most of her time in the gardens. Especially the ones which you and her created during your childhood. She says she feels "closer" to you whenever she is there."

Naruto grimaced, "That bad huh?"

" Yeah, that bad. She doesn't show it outside, thanks to all of the disciplinary training the Noble houses give during our childhood but, she is in pain son. A lot. And I won't blame you cause of all of that shit pulled by the Lucifuge and the Gremory but I wish you would've considered our feelings. Especially your mother's, you know how frail she is in terms of you."

Naruto could only clench his heart and throat as Lord Phenex spoke those words. Yes, he knew how his mother was extra affectionate when it came to him, but... right now he didn't even want to make any excuses for his past self, because that changes nothing of what he had done.

" Again dad, I'm sorry. I know it won't change anything but , as of now I will only work towards mending my past wrongs"

Lord Phenex chuckled lightly, " I know you will son. Or else you wouldn't confront your mother now, would you? Now go on, she is waiting for you. For many decades now."

Naruto smiled and was about to walk away when,

"W-wait, Naruto nii-sama"

Ravel caught the sleeve of his shirt , stopping him abruptly. Naruto turned back,

" Ravel, what is it?"

".....-each me.....spe...s", Ravel mumbled some words, which Naruto couldn't hear ( which if he could, we would've seen a proper NaruHina relationship way back in OG Naruto itself)

"What? I can't hear you?"

Ravel ear tips reddened before she clutched her dress tightly and raising her voice,

"C-can N-naruto-niisama please teach me Magic spells!!"

Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at Ravel. Ravel looked at Naruto's expression and hastily apologized,

"I'm sorry niisama!! Just forget it, of course you will be busy-"

"Yeah let's do it after I meet our mother shall we?

"Eh?" Ravel couldn't process what Naruto said, " R-really?"

"Yes, for real. Ok, I'll get going now, don't want to increase the wrath I'm about to face even a bit now. Bye.

Naruto walked towards the gardens, as Ravel could only look in shock at his back. Lord Phenex chuckled as he saw Ravel's expression,

"Don't be surprised just by that. As he is back now, you'll see more and more and what a wonderful person your Eldest brother is."

Ravel could only nod, whether she understood anything, no one knows. The reason why Ravel is surprised is that the person she looked up to all her life, just accepted her request of teaching her magic spells, which is the only selfish wish she ever wanted. And also, the way he presented himself is not the stereotypical way the nobles do. That was why she was shocked for the first time when she slipped her mouth about the incident and person, whom she hated by the way. Speak like that to any other noble, you are dead meat if you are not from a known pillar.

As various thoughts ran through Ravel's mind, Naruto almost reached the entrance to the Gardens. He took a deep breath in and out, before entering it. In the distance, which was the center of the Garden, he could see a blonde-haired woman sitting on a chair, He slowly walked towards her and when she was near her,

" Sorry, can you guys leave me alone in here. I don't want anyone here now."

She was sitting with her back facing toward him, and Naruto slightly smiled,

"Really? Because I thought the old man in there said you've missed me."

Lady Phenex, who was just stirring the tea in her cup until that moment, suddenly froze when she heard that voice. She slowly turned her head towards her back, and he eyes began to run with tears even before she could say anything.

Naruto's heart broke when he saw his mother's face, and before he can move, she got up and hugged him tightly and wept in his chest. Naruto couldn't hold the lump in his throat and tears began to fall from his eyes too, though he calmed down and began to comfort his mom,

"Don't cry mom, please. This stupid son of yours has made a mistake, I'm sorry. I won't go anywhere else now."

Lady Phenex looked up at him, her eyes reddish, and began to speak,

"Was it too hard for you to tell me what happened before you left? Or is that your way of saying "you are just my stepparents"?"

Naruto froze when he heard those words, before slightly recovering "N-no mom, I never thought like that. You are my parents, no step or anything."

Lady Phenex knew she said what she shouldn't, especially her. But she couldn't keep it in. Since he left, her agents and people have been on the search for Naruto and every day, her hope of seeing him again got painful and dimmer. And when she saw him now, all of a sudden, she couldn't help but lash out a powerful spite to make him feel bad.

She cupped his face in her hands, " If you consider us as a real family, then from now on, please don't hide your feeling from us. I know its due that sorry excuse of a Gremory and that Lucifuge but even still, from now you keep your family first, and in family I come first okay?"

Naruto could only smile, "Yes, this Naruto Phenex will reveal every inch of my feelings and thoughts to Lady Phenex before anyone."

Lady Phenex smiled; Satan knows how many days the last time she did that. She combed his hair with her hands,

"Your hair looks nice now. It amps your facial features more."

"Of course, I know you would like it.

"And why is that?"

"Cause I don't?"

Layla(Lady Phenex) pinched his arm before giggling. Naruto smiled as he saw her laughing again. And then he said with a smile,

"I'm home mom"

Lady Phenex looked at him warmly,

"Welcome back son."

(TIMESKIP A FEW HOURS)

The Phenex mansion got very busy since Naruto came back. All the maids were rushing in and out of every room to keep it in check, the chefs were preparing some of the best dishes as they were personally instructed to by Lady Phenex. She didn't want one thing imperfect today, as her son is back now. And in the midst of all that, Naruto was teaching Ravel some magic spells. That was what Ravel wished, as she was now jogging around the compound in her tracksuit. As she was mainly a strategist and not combat offensive, expect some good spells here and there, she lacked any kind of fitness, though she looks perfect on the outside.

"Oy Ravel, this is too slow. Even kids will run better than", Naruto said as he saw a red-faced, panting, and sweating Ravel on the ground.

" N-niisama..y-you said you will teach me magic spells. And yet you called me here and made me run 10 laps around the mansion."

"Do you think gaining physical foundation isn't good, Ravel?"

"N-no. It's just that.. I'm a strategist and use magic spells. I'm not a close combat type."

Naruto looked at Ravel for a couple of seconds before,

"Ravel meet me up at the library after you freshen up, okay?"

Ravel's eyes lit up, "You're going to teach me new spells?!!"

Naruto chuckled and petted her head,

"Something like that. Will you be there?"

"YES!"

While all kinds of things were going on ( get your brain out of the gutter) at the Phenex mansion, words leaked out that the eldest son of the Phenex household has returned. It was just a rumor at that stage but when houses closest to the Phenex house called them, they got the clear news.

As Naruto entered the mansion after Ravel's workout, he could see Lord Phenex smiling as he looked around. He walked towards him and asked,

"If that smile is towards a maid, you're a busted dad."

Lord Phenex chuckled,

"No son, I'm way past doing that .....maybe..... but no it's now what I'm smiling at. It's been decades since I saw your mother this happy and the mansion this noisy and active."

Naruto gave his goofy laugh, "Yes c'mon, praise me more. Don't mind it, I'll take in any compliments"

"Don't get cocky brat", Lord Phenex head locked Naruto in his arms.

"ANIKI!!"