(Y/N) POV:

I try oh so hard to slip off into my room so I can put oppa down and he can relax fully but luck is not on my side. Yoongi's hand snags my waist, tugging me next to him and with soft eyes as he looks at me, almost apologetically, his mouth is set firmly as he calls out for the others.

It doesn't take long for the others to arrive. They barrel into the room, cheery and raucous. It's almost in unison that their eyes fall onto the white cat in my arms. There's a flurry of movement and suddenly they are all crowding around me, cooing at the cat in my arms.

But then Soo-ah; which is how Myungsoo oppa likes to be called in cat form, begins to hiss, fur standing on edge because of the numerous people surrounding him and his already fragile emotional state makes him perceive them as unwelcomed. And threats to his safety. He turns, scrabbling at my clothes, paws desperately latching themselves to my neck and torso.

I immediately seek to reassure him, hands moving to smooth over his fur, slow rubs into his back and a light scratch behind the ears and wait for him to calm down under my light petting. The others have retreated a bit, giving Soo-ah the space he needs and now when he turns, it is more of an appraising look and curiosity rather than the initial reaction of fear.

"(Y/N)-ah, the cat is so cute! Where did you get it from?" Jiminie asks, bouncing on the balls of his feet with barely restrained excitement, bunching his hands up in front of his face as he looks at Soo-ah with excitement.

"This is Soo-ah, he'll be here for the day. He...he lives with a really close friend of mine." I give a half-truth. I know that when Myungsoo oppa shifts back, he will explain most likely, but it isn't my business to decide.

Tae is looking at him with slightly raised eyebrows over eyes that look with a deep intensity.

"Soo-ah...can I pet him? Oh please!" he drawls out before breaking into an eager tone, hands making grabby motions for the cat I'm holding.

I stiffen slightly not knowing how Soo-ah will react but put him down gently so as a cat, he can make the decision himself whether or not he's willing to play. I also don't want to hand him over and have one of my soulmates scratched or clawed at.

Soo-ah lifts his head up, silently assessing them all before he is softly padding over to slide into the gap between Hobi oppa and Joonie, small body rubbing against their legs as he starts purring. The two break into smiles; Hobi oppa's is radiant and blinding and Joonie's is tentative and shy and they both bend to run their large hands through his fur, rubbing gently as they pet him, crooning soft phrases to Soo-ah. And even though I know they don't know who it is, those soft phrases and the petting are gestures of affection that will be a balm to the hurt and agony Myungsoo oppa is experiencing- perhaps even helping it heal a bit further.

----

I sit in a circle with my soulmates on the soft plush carpet, absently running my fingers through Soo-ah's fur as he sits content in the middle of my lap, nestling his head into the crux of my knee. He blinks up at me and mewls softly, I bend my head and his small paw comes to gently rub against my face. I know it is an act of love and whether it is Soo-ah or Myungsoo oppa actively making it happen, I smile at him leaning forward to pepper his face with soft kisses.

"You know the rules of uno right?" Tae says, leaning forward with a competitive gleam in his eyes. I nod, I love playing uno- ruthless at it in fact, but I'll keep that tidbit of information to myself for now. In my lap Soo-ah purrs and it sounds almost mocking. I bite back a grin.

"I've played a few times." I say, giving only the bare minimum away.

And it's several rounds later and pouty and put out faces all around that I yell out 'uno' triumphantly and when it comes to my go despite desperate attempts to prevent my win, I throw down a black colour-change card, declaring me the winner.

The others groan, huffing as they throw down their own cards, complaint loud and clear.

"No fair!" Jiminie exclaims.

"You must've cheated. There's no way you won nearly every round." Hobi oppa protests, eyes narrowed at me.

"She must know a hack to playing this game." Yoongi speaks up, voice low but carrying through the room regardless.

"Quick, Kook search up if there's cheat sheets for uno." Jinnie oppa says, gesticulating wildly to Kookie who he know pulls into his lap and looks over his shoulder watching him tap away at his phone furiously.

"(Y/N)-ah, you said you only played a few times." Tae's voice is accusatory as he points his finger at me.

I can't help but giggle at the look of affront they all sport.

I sigh in mock horror, leaning back.

"Ahh, shame boys. I win. Let's not be sore losers. Be a good sport." I tease, failing at keeping up the act and bursting out laughing.

And from the look on all their faces, they are anything but pleased.

MYUNGSOO POV:

Watching (Y/N) interact with her soulmates is like watching from one side of the window, it's all clear to see but I can't reach them through the barrier. I haven't felt this content in a long time, being Soo-ah and being petted by not one but eight people has helped me relax and push the hurt far back.

I feel more in control and aware as Soo-ah than I have ever felt. I don't know why it is but I do know that with each growing moment of clarity and alertness, I might shift back sooner than expected.

And when I do, it's time to explain.

JIMIN POV:

"Oh come on please (Y/N)-ah!" I pout and wheedle standing in front of her doorway which is blocked by both the door and (Y/N) who stares at me nonplussed.

"No Jiminie, not today." She huffs but her face is wavering.

If I push enough, maybe she'll melt.

"Tae!" I yell, calling out for my soulmate. The sounds behind the bathroom door get louder and I hear him fumbling about trying to put clothes on before the door is being swung open.

Tae is standing there with dripping hair and a pair of haphazardly thrown on shorts and a t-shirt as he quickly scans me before the tenseness in his shoulder relaxes.

"Yah Minnie! Don't yell like that if nothing's happened." He complains.

"Tae baby, (Y/N)-ah is being mean. She won't cuddle me or let any of us sleep with her." I whine, batting my eyes at him, watching as his expression settles into one of confusion.

"What, why?" he strides forward but (Y/N) refuses to budge, her stance gets defensive and even though we tower over her, she looks up at us unfazed.

"No means no. Soo-ah will be sleeping with me tonight. And that's final." She says. Her eyes dart from first Tae then to me and she's about to close the door when I quickly tug her face towards me, manging to peck her cheek.

"What-what are you doing?" she splutters.

"That won't work on me. Goodnight boys." She says firmly, door shutting behind her.

"Well done Min." Tae complains before spinning around, grabbing my wrist, and taking me with him.

YOONGI POV:

Even whilst Hobi sleeps in my arms, breath fanning out across my collarbone, I can't fall asleep. Even though I'm with my soulmate, perfectly content with how Hobi had burrowed into my arms and fallen asleep, I'm wide awake. Mind buzzing with thoughts.

There's something odd about how (Y/N)-ah became alarmed at the date; I saw her fingers frantically messaging someone before we left. So why was there no-one in the house, and why did she have the keys? And why of all things, did she rush over for a cat? It wasn't adding up, something wasn't sitting right with me. I took a glance at the clock, dimly illuminated by the rays of moonlight filtering through the curtain. 3am. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to check up on her.

When she'd refused to sleep with any of us, point blank rejected the idea of a sleepover or any one of us going into her room or her coming into ours, at first it stirred up a feeling of panic. But she hadn't been afraid, her heartbeat and breaths were regular. She wasn't running from us, she wasn't scared or trying to hurt us. So what had been the reason? A cat. Namely, a white cat called Soo-ah who stared with more intensity and understanding than any other feline I'd seen.

I felt the stirs of jealousy deep in my gut, souring my mood even now as I thought of it. She pushed us all away; her soulmates, so she could cuddle a cat? Wow...I was being envious of a cat. I let out a disbelieving laugh, mocking myself at the incredulity of the situation. I was up at 3am thinking about a cat.

Mind made up, I slowly eased Hobi out of my arms and tucked him up with the blanket now covering his exposed torso, covering up the bright cheery t-shirt he'd worn to bed. He squirmed slightly, body shifting, I waited with bated breath but sighed when I saw him just snuggle deeper into the pillow.

I carefully slid out of bed, feet padding across the carpet as I slowly made my way out of my room, silently trudging towards (Y/N)'s instead.

I slid the door open and silently stepped in and sighed at what I saw. (Y/N) was fast asleep. The blankets had been kicked off at some point, they lay rucked up at the foot of the bed. Her legs were slightly bent, dressed in an oversized tee that I recognised as Joon-ah's and hair fanned out across the pillow. She looked so peaceful, face younger and more open whilst asleep. Face void of the worries she'd been carrying regarding Yuna. I wished for her to always be this relaxed and at peace. It was the least she deserved. Then my eyes fell on the cat. Soo-ah. I glared at how leisurely he was sleeping, paws sprawled out and head resting on (Y/N)'s stomach, ears twitching lightly in his sleep.

At least someone was getting a good night's rest.

I reached forwards, hands grabbing at the blankets lying at the end of the bed, intending to cover (Y/N) up so she didn't get cold. But as I had bent to pick it up, there was a soft yellowy glow and when I straightened, I felt the blankets slip out of my slacked grip. Lying on the bed wasn't (Y/N) and Soo-ah. Lying on the bed was (Y/N) and a man whose face was nestled into my soulmate's stomach, body sprawled out and jumper shifted upwards to reveal skin marked with the tips of a large tattoo. This wasn't a cat. This was a strange man sleeping on top of our soulmate.

I swore, loud and filthy, the sound echoing in the room, the man shifted slightly, turning his head the other way, towards (Y/N)'s upper half. I hadn't realised I'd emoted a distress call through our bond. But it pulled everyone from consciousness and when the hurrying of feet pattering across the floor stopped on entering the room.

Several heartbeats rocketed, jaws dropped and then all hell broke loose.

Myungsoo and Soo-ah:

(WELP! WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? APART FROM A LATE UPDATE FROM YOURS TRULY...MYUNGSOO BACK IN HUMAN FORM AND WHO TO CATCH HIM OTHER THAN YOONGI?? WELL, WELL... I WONDER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW. POOR MYUNGSOO...I CAN ALREADY SEE THE GUYS OVERREACTING, THINKING UP COUNTLESS SCENARIOS OF A MAN WHO HAS SNUCK IN AND SLEPT WITH THEIR SOULMATE. I FEEL BAD FOR HIM! HOW WAS IT?? LET ME KNOW AS USUAL! WE'VE REAHED AN ASTONISHING 67K! THIS MEANS THIS FIC IS GIVEN MORE SUPPORT AND LOVE THAN THE OTHER...WHICH I CAN HOPEFULLY THINK IT MEANS THAT MY WRITING HAS GOTTEN A BIT BETTER! AND WE ARE NOW NUMBER ONE FOR ALL JIN TAGGED FICS! THAT'S DOWN TO YOU ALL! AFTER THIS CHAPTER WE WILL BE MOVING BACK ON TRACK WITH A RATHER HORRID HATED ISSUE SPELT YUNA. SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!)

Yesterday's you doesn't define tomorrow's you.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3