~Time skip: 2 months~

Yukari wiped his forehead then had his leg attacked by a small creature.

"Heart, stop that." Yukari fussed as the cat meowed loudly by his feet.

Yukari heard something crash to the floor. He looked on in horror as the tray of cookies had fallen and the culprit was licking them.

"Diamond! Come here and stop licking those cookies!" Yukari said angrily as he scooped up the dog, Heart following behind. "I told you no. They aren't doggie treats."

He heard scampering from afar and saw the youngest appear, slowing down at the sight of Yukari. They had a state down before it headed straight for the fallen cookies.

"Oh no you don't." said Yukari, picking up the other dog, Cigam.

Yukari carried the dogs out as Heart quietly followed, hoping to get some reward for being good. He put the dogs down who ran in opposite directions. He gave Heart a few pets before he was satisfied and walked away. He moved to clean up the fallen cookies, only to hear his doorbell.

He quickly went to answer it then smiled happily. He ushered him inside, preventing the incoming dogs from escaping into the cold.

"There go two of my favorite four." said Adolf as Diamond and Cigam stood on twos, hoping to be picked up.

"Diamond ruined the cookies. And just when I finally got them right too..." said Yukari feeling stressed. "Why is that damn gate still on back order..."

Adolf gave him a kiss on the cheek as Diamond whined by his feet, wanting to be picked up too.

"It'll come, just a bit longer. Hm, I don't see Heart and her little sister anywhere..." said Adolf looking around.

"Heart just went upstairs. I haven't seen Youin since last night. You know she loves to hide." said Yukari with a shrug.

Adolf finally picked up Diamond who started to sniff Cigam. He willingly volunteered to keep the pets entertained while he made another batch of cookies. Diamond and Cigam became excited as they recognized the position Adolf had taken. Soon the dogs were chasing after Adolf around the living room before he climbed onto a rather high shelf.

"Can't catch me now can you?" Adolf teased before moving down and letting them catch him.

A familiar jingling filled his ears. It was Youin. The dogs took off, going to greet her before Adolf. Youin freaked out and went back into hiding. Adolf shook his head as he looked around where the dogs were sniffing, finding Youin.

"Did they scare you? Go shoo." said Adolf, watching the dogs walk away. "You can come out now."

Youin looked at him for a while before leaving her spot. She sniffed his hand before rubbing up against him.

"Ah, so this is where she hides..." said Yukari as he licked his fingers. "Is she okay? She's not hurt or anything?"

"All good. Say, I'm curious about something." said Adolf, standing from his crouched position and walking over to him.

Yukari tilted his head then had his wrist seized. A blush occupied his face as Adolf licked one of his fingers.

"Y- You could've asked for some batter!" Yukari fussed, completely embarrassed by his action.

"I think it tastes even sweeter coming off of you." said Adolf with a wink.

Yukari pouted but kept silent. Youin meowed and rubbed her head against both of them, reminding them that she didn't want to be ignored.

"I should go uh, watch the cookies..." said Yukari, quickly returning to the kitchen.

"Ah, I almost had him. Yukari belongs to both of us, so let's share properly." said Adolf, scolding the cat.

One of the dogs started barking, causing the couple to wonder what the problem was. They jogged over to Diamond who was looking out the frosted door and barking.

"Do you see anything?" asked Yukari worriedly.

"I'll check." said Adolf, putting his coat on and stepping out.

Yukari watched from the doorway then spotted something in the opposite direction Adolf went in. He walked towards it despite not having a coat on. It looked like a person. He quickened his slow pace and confirmed it to be a person. He reached down and felt their neck for a pulse. They were alive.

"Hey! What are you doing without a coat?" Adolf fussed as he made his way over.

Yukari flipped them over and nearly went into cardiac arrest. Emotions started to overwhelm him as he pulled the person close to his chest. Adolf looked around, wondering why his boyfriend was holding a person in his arms. Did he know him?

"He came home..." Yukari whispered, his tears instantly becoming cold as they left his eyes. "He finally came home."

"Who...?" asked Adokf, completely out of the loop.

"Kuroh..." said Yukari in the softest voice, holding an unconscious Kuroh as if he were a delicate piece.

༘⋆ ༘⋆ ༘

Yukari quietly watched over Kuroh as he layered numerous blankets on him and put a heater by the foot of the bed. How long had he been out there? Why did he come back after two months? He pinned up the rest of his bangs and gently ran his hand through his hair.

"Should we go see a doctor...?" Yukari mumbled, worried that he wouldn't wake up.

Adolf cracked the door open and secretly looked. Why did Kuroh come back after all this time? It wasn't that he didn't want him back, it just seemed odd.

Kuroh groaned in his sleep, shifting uncomfortably. Yukari held his hand then rubbed circles on his forehead, hoping it'd chase away his bad dreams. Kuroh's facial expression softened, signaling whatever was bugging him had ceased existing.

Another hour passed and Yukari was close to nodding off. Kuroh finally awakened.

"Kuroh... welcome home." said Yukari slowly with a bright smile.

"Yukari..." mumbled Kuroh, giving him a tight hug.

Yukari sniffled as he hugged him tighter. Ever since he left, not once had he stopped believing Kuroh would come home and that when he did, he needed to show him how much he's been able to do on his own. Kuroh pulled away and gently wiped his tears with a smile.

"Like I said before, nowhere is as good as being by your side." said Kuroh gripping the blankets. "Will you accept me back?"

Yukari nodded happily, not having to think twice about it. They hugged again, this time Kuroh bursting into tears. Small barks and meows filled their ears as Adolf was revealed from his hiding spot by the pets. They happily ran over to Yukari, wondering who the stranger was.

Diamond started to bark again, finding the newcomer a threat to his family. Yukari quieted him down, assuring him Kuroh was family as well. Heart decided to investigate. Kuroh let her sniff him and decide. She mewed before jumping off the bed. He was passable.

"As you can see, I've expanded my family..." said Yukari with a nervous laugh. "I hope you're not angry."

"I won't be, as long as you promise to continue caring for them with me." said Kuroh.

Yukari nodded then picked up Cigam who stayed behind. Cigam looked at Yukari as he was handed off to Kuroh. Why did his owner look so affectionately at the stranger? Kuroh started talking to him. Cigam looked at him then whimpered. Diamond was onto something.

"H- Hey! Cigam! You-!" Yukari said angrily as he had taken a piss, causing Kuroh to let him go. "I swear they're usually not like this..."

"Guess I'll take some getting used to..." said Kuroh, recoiling at the scent of dog piss.

They started to laugh, imagining the new future together with the pets.