Thunder clouds loomed over the forest. Boss stared out the clubhouse window, flinching as a crash of thunder sounded. As he fell, he heard the sound of breaking glass, and he looked up to see he had broken Bijou's teacup that Hamtaro had made by paw.
"Bijou," he gasped. "I'm sorry, I--Bijou?" The snow-white hamster wasn't looking at him. Her sapphire eyes stared at the door. He stared at her confused, and watched as the door open. He saw her eyes light up hopefully, only to be filled with sadness as she saw it was Pashmina who had come in.
"Phew," she sighed, shaking the rain out of her golden and white fur. "it's a downpour out there. Penelope and I are soaked!"
"Ugh, my hat got soaked, okwee!" Penelope whined, taking off her favorite yellow hat to reveal her brown and white fur. Pashmina smiled at her companion.
Pashmina blinked at Bijou, then looked at Boss warily. "How long has she been like this?" she asked, looking at Bijou once more, who was still staring blankly at the door.
Boss looked at Bijou with a worried face. "All day. She hasn't even touched the sunflower seeds Oxnard gave her, but I know she's hungry..." he sighed. "The thing is, I can't figure out whats wrong with her."
Pashmina lowered her voice when she spoke. "Of course she's not eating, Boss. Don't you know what day it is?" Boss blinked at her, confused, and she sighed in frustration. "It's Bijou's birthday."
Boss seemed surprised for a moment, then nodded, "I see," he looked at Bijou with sympathy in his eyes. "I wish there was something we could do for her."
Pashmina sighed and shook her head, "There's nothing we can do, Boss. She's like this every year." Pashmina proceeded to pick up the pieces of Bijou's shattered teacup. "I'll have Panda fix this later." she told Bijou. Bijou nodded absently, as if she didn't realize Pashmina was there, not taking her eyes off of the door.
Boss stood up with a sigh, walking toward his bedroom door, when he heard a soft voice murmur, "Hamtaro...." Boss looked at Bijou, his heart wrenching. How he wished he could help her.
Why...? Bijou thought to herself. Why did he have to go? Bijou stared into the fireplace of her own room, remembering all the times Hamtaro had saved her. She remembered the final words she could have said to him, she should have said to him, before he left. "I love you."
She watched as the flames danced, reminding her of the times she and Hamtaro had done just that, danced, and had fun. She looked at the table with the letters that Hamtaro had sent her. These were old letters, though. She had stopped waiting for Hamtaro's letters so long ago...
Bijou reached into the bowl on the small table beside her, putting an acorn in her mouth.
Five years... she thought with a sigh. When is he coming back...?
END OF CH. 1