Ooooo...the plot thickens...

Chapter 3: An Uncalled-for Attack, A Surprise Apology.

Boss didn't say anything. He turned around, and went into his room. Truthfully, there was nothing to say. Stan stood there, a little dazed, holding his bleeding nose. Sandy took him with her to the stream, to wash his face. The rest of the hams sighed and remained mostly silent for a long time. Hamtaro, himself, had a lot of things going through his mind. Why was Big Ham trying to take Bijou away? Had she done anything wrong?

No way, thought Hamtaro, Bijou isn't that kind of hamster. She's very nice to everyone. All the Ham-Hams are.

And then Hamtaro remembered something about a Master. So, was Big Ham not the end of it? Will there be more bad hamsters trying to take Bijou away? Hamtaro didn't want to think anymore about all of this. Besides Bijou's misfortunes, poor Boss also got a nasty blow to the head, and of course, Stan. The other hams, too, even though they knew and understood very little of what was happening and had happened, felt the want to just forget it and go about their playing and happy times.

Elder Ham, however, had a slight notion of what was happening.

"This is not good...no not at all...very bad, indeed..."

Everyone peered over at their guest, who was whispering to himself as he sat huddled up in a ponderous stance. Hamtaro was intrigued.

"What's wrong, Elder Ham? Did you forget to take your pills today?"

"No, no it's not that its...well...its..."

"Hecke?"

"I may know why that Big Ham fellow attacked you, and tried to kidnapp Bijou. It's just an idea, but I have been seeing weird things lately. You see..."

Sandy and Stan re-entered the Clubhouse. The boy ham sat down, a little embarassed and angry. He had taken a punch from Boss, and Sandy had given him a strict lecture already about pushing people's buttons, especially Boss', and especially in a situation like that. After everyone was settled away, Elder Ham continued.

"Well, it all started last week. I was out and about, meeting some old friends and catching up on old times, when I stopped into the home of a most peculiar ham. I meant to leave when I realized it wasn't the one I was looking for, but I heard him talking about some strange things with some hamsters. There was a big hamster there, most likely your Big Ham, and a few others. I was going to listen longer, but I was forced to leave when one of the hamsters started to come near my direction."

"I don't get it, what's yer point?" said Howdy.

"My point is..."

Dexter spoke up. "...You think this mysterious hamster told Big Ham to kidnapp Bijou?". All the Ham-Hams exhanged concerned glances. Elder Ham nodded.

"I don't know Elder Ham, the idea of someone going to such lengths to take Bijou seems quite strange. Did he say what his motive was?" questioned Maxwell.

"I'm afraid I couldn't say. I only heard them talking about what they were going to be paid, and then I left."

Everyone sat thinking for a moment, until Hamtaro broke the silence moments later.

"Right! So we have to protect Bijou, then! We don't know why this hamster wants her so bad, but if he's doing all of this, it's probably not very good! Dont'cha think guys?"

Everyone agreed. Penelope began to jump around the room restlessly. It seemed she wanted to play.

"I agree with Penelope. I think it's time we had a little fun around here, I'm tired of all this fighting and talking." said Pashmina.

"Ya but we can't all go. Someone has to stay here and watch Bijou..." argued Sandy.

"Boss is here" mentioned Oxnard.

"Pssh," hissed Stan, "he's too busy sulking in his room, remember?"

"Well then maybe you should apoligize, Stan!" Sandy was still upset about her brother's harsh words, but the male twin just turned his head and sneered.

"Ya right... like I'm going to apoligize for being punched in the face! Let him stay there for all I care!". As Stan finished what he was saying a faint, unnoticable click was sounding off from the back. It was Boss leaving his room.

"Boss!" cried Hamtaro, as he spotted the field hamster coming towards the table. Stan nearly jumped out of his fur when he turned around and saw the imposing figure of Boss behind him.

"B-B-B-Boss...I-I-I-IIIIII," Stan nervously chucked, "hey man, about before...". Everyone braced for impact.

"...Sorry..." managed Boss.

"Sorry for hitting you... I kinda let my anger get the best of me...". Everyone was stunned. Boss had actually apoligized first. Stan was caught in a fit of stammering gasps.

"Bossman...", Stan held out his paw, and Boss took it. They shook hands. "I'm sorry too...I shouldn't have said those horrible things. I know it wasn't your fault that Bijou got hurt." Boss shook his head and dropped his eyes to the floor.

"No, you were right. It was my fault. I could have stopped it if I wasn't such a hothead. I'll understand if you hate me..." Hamtaro got up and stepped forward, his usually hidden, mature nature coming through.

"You can't be serious Boss! Do you honestly think we could ever hate you? It's because of you that we can even meet like this and have so much fun! Without you, there'd be no Ham-hams!" Everyone agreed and nodded their heads. Boss looked up and smiled, with a small tear in the corner of his eye.

"You guys really think so..."

"Of course we do! Don't beat yourself up Boss, please, we all feel sad when you're sad."

"Thanks guys...I'm sorry, I'll try to feel better..."

Howdy jumped up from his chair. Dexter followed suit.

"Well now that all that stuff's done with I propose we have what the Spanish call 'some fun'!"

"I agree, let's just enjoy the rest of the day and forget the fighting even happened!"

Everyone cheered and procedded to leave, except for Pashmina who decided to stay behind and draw with Penelope and watch over Bijou. For the rest of the day, everything was normal. By the time the sunset came, everyone had forgotten about the incident, and Pashmina had woken the sleeping victim up just before it was time to leave.

"Bijou, it's time to go home" she said in a whisper as she shook her. The always elegant French ham slowly opened her eyes and sat up, the straw bed obviously having messed up her usually very pretty and fine fur. A couple of tuffs stood up on her head, giving her a rather humourous appearance, causing Pashmina to giggle.

"Hmmm...Pashmina, where is everyone?"

"They're all leaving. The sun's setting and it's time for us to go home."

"Oh I'd better go too! Maria would be so worried if she found out I wasn't there!"

Bijou got up very quickly; too quickly, in fact, and fell right back down again. She would have fallen quite hard, indeed, if Boss had not caught her. He had silently moved up behind the two girls moments before, not intentionally of course. She looked up at him, and he went a little red. But this time ol' Boss was ready. He was finally going to get his chance with Bijou. He had it all planned out. He would ask her if he could carry her home. She would obviously, being the kind person Bijou is, accept and he would have all the time to tell her how she felt. There was no doubt, after performing such a valiant, heroic and manly deed, that she would fall in love with him too. He helped her to her feet.

"Boss! Merci beaucoup! That would have hurt..."

"Errr...no...problem Bijou...say, listen...I...well..." She cocked her head to one side quizzically.

"Oui?"

"I was wondering...since your so...you know...hurt and stuff...well...WELL...B-B-B-B-BIJOU...I...I...I...I..."

Somewhere in between Boss' stammering the Clubhouse door violently swung open and a panting, biwildered Panda entered. Upon catching his breath, he began to speak.

"It's...Hamtaro...he...collapsed...we can't...wake him up..." Bijou, with her heart in her stomach, brushed past Boss and ran as fast as she could outside. Pashmina and Penelope followed suit, and Boss just sighed.

"Cats..." he exhaled. Finally, he picked himself up and left the Clubhouse. Not too far from the entrance, surronded by all of the Ham-Hams, was poor little Hamtaro, laying on the grass on his stomach, making not a sound nor twitch. Little did any of them know, however, that at that moment they were being watched from afar. On a tree branch hidden by leaves, high above the ground, a small hamster sat, observing his soon to be victims.

C'est très bien! At least Boss and Stan made up, and petit Bijou was alright in the end, but oh non!, Hamtaro is in trouble, perhaps? Or maybe not? And this new figure, this étranger, what is his mission? Oolala, even I do not know!