The house was quiet—too quiet. The kind of silence that only loneliness could create. Mai sat by the window, her gaze lost in the soft twilight sky. The wind carried the scent of summer through the open window, but it felt empty without him. Two months. Two long months without Sasuke. She knew what she signed up for when she married him—a shinobi’s life was never still. But that didn’t make it any easier.

A soft creak broke the silence. Her heart skipped, but she didn’t turn around. It couldn’t be…

“…Mai.”

That voice. Low, familiar, and warm despite its usual coolness.

Her eyes widened as she spun around, and there he was—leaning casually against the doorframe, his cloak still dusted from travel, hair slightly wind-tousled. His Sharingan eye was covered, but the other met her gaze—soft, searching.

“You’re back,” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he crossed the room in a heartbeat, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her close. The scent of the road clung to him—earth, wind, and something distinctly him.

“I missed you,” he murmured against her hair, his voice rough, as though he hadn’t spoken such tender words in too long. “I couldn’t stay away any longer.”

Mai’s hands clutched his cloak, her emotions crashing over her. “You should’ve told me you were coming back… I—”

“I wanted to surprise you.” His thumb brushed her cheek, wiping away the tear she hadn’t realized had fallen. “You’ve been patient with me. More than I deserve. But I promise… I never stop thinking about you.”

The usual stoic mask was gone—this was Sasuke, raw and real, the man who chose her despite the weight of his past.

“…Welcome home,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to his.

And for once, the silence in the house felt perfect—because he was there to share it.