Chapter 13: Mystery Of The Missing Capped One

Author's Note: Yay for another quick update! Well, good news to all of you, this isn't the end of the story. I've decided to add something else to the plot (besides, as I said before, I'm tired of the same idea centering chapters). And since I forgot some of the other Ham-Hams (like Panda and Cappy) I thought I'd add in what happened to them.

Le Disclaimer: I don't own Hamtaro so there. C'est la vie!

Things are never as bad as they seem. This was proven true that brisk clear morning while a white hamster by the name of Bijou was walking her usual route to the Clubhouse.

There wasn't a sign at all that anything bad was going to happen; especially with the weather. The weather depicted a perfect day full of glorious sunshine and little (or no) rain.

Perhaps, this was the more positive input on things. Bijou, who amazingly got a decent amount of sleep even with last night's pressures, was walking a bit slower then usual.

As if rehearsing for a play, Bijou was saying the same thing over and over, trying to put it in the best words, and get the "American" (or normal as Bijou thought it was) accent right.

"Everyone," she started a bit dull in tone. "Last night, Boss tried to kidnap me. He got arrested." No matter how many times she put it into different wording it sounded just as strange. The whole scenario was strange. Maybe another reason she was walking so slow was because she was hoping Hamtaro would beat her into telling everyone what happened. He was a witness too...and a hero in sense.

Rehearsing her speech again, this time being more detailed, the white hamster heaved a sigh. This wasn't going to be easy. But life wasn't easy, as she had already learned. You just had to be a bit more positive about things.

You needed to look at life thinking that the "glass" was half full rather than half empty...at least, that was Bijou's perspective.

Finally arriving at the Clubhouse, she rehearsed once more before opening the doors. She put on a fake cheerful smile, and ventured in to see what everyone else was doing (if anyone else was there). She had come rather early, maybe because the pressure was killing her in a sense...or something much like it. She just wanted to get it over with.

Surprisingly, everyone was there. Pashmina, Stan, Maxwell, Sandy, Howdy, Dexter, and just about everyone else were seated around the table, as if they were having another meeting.

"Bonjour everyone!" Bijou cheerfully said (or tried to act cheerful at the least). The rest of the Ham-Hams stared right at her, and smiled as well.

"We heard what happened last night," Pashmina finally admitted, looking down.

"What do ya mean we heard what happen!?" Howdy exclaimed in his Western accent. "Everyone knows what happened!"

"Lay it on her, won't you?" Sandy exclaimed. "Bijou has been through a lot, give her some credit. Maybe we should like hear her side of the story."

"..." Bijou was short on words. All that rehearsing for nothing? What a shame...

"Well, if you ask me," Maxwell insightfully said. "I would think Bijou would like to stay away from the subject. Besides, that's not the only reason we called this meeting to order."

It seemed as if Maxwell was taking place as leader...at least that's what Bijou's prediction was...or maybe he was always leader. That just let on a series of more thoughts to befuddle the innocent white hamster. She took her usual center seat and nodded.

"Oui," she said, using French once again. As much as she would try to avoid her native language she really couldn't. "I'd really appreciate it if we didn't talk about it. What's the other problem?" she asked, having no clue to what it was.

"Cappy," Maxwell answered, drawing a pretty low rate drawing of the hamster that always had his head in pots...or other hats. "We haven't seen him for a long time."

"The craft store is still open," Dexter logically said. "I just passed by it the other day. Things are still running smoothly..."

"But like, Cappy hasn't been to the Clubhouse in ages." Sandy announced.

Bijou frowned and nodded. "Yeah, I wonder what happened..."

"That's exactly what we're going to find out!" Maxwell said, as if he was looking forward to the new mission.

Bijou looked around the table, suddenly noticing Hamtaro's absence. Was he sick? This just caused her to worry. She drew her attention back to Maxwell.

"Well," Maxwell said, writing on the chalkboard with a white piece of chalk. "There are many possible solutions to this case." He turned back to the group. "One may be that he's been sick for awhile..."

"If he was like sick," Sandy started. "His owners would like take him to the vet." She tilt her head. "His owners totally spoil him."

"Now's not the time to be getting into whether Cappy's spoiled or not." Maxwell said to Sandy.

"Whatever," Sandy muttered, turning away. The couple still wasn't on good terms since the whole episode that had happened in the last week.

"The second solution is that Cappy hasn't been feeling up to coming to the Clubhouse." Maxwell said, feeling rather professional.

"Why wouldn't he want to come to the Clubhouse to see us?" Pashmina asked, a bit insulted.

"Well," Maxwell said. "No offence or anything but some of us did look rather scary and weren't much of a joy to be around..."

Pashmina frowned. "Maybe..." she said, turning away as well, thinking back on her "punk" days.

"And the third solution is that Cappy was kidnapped." Maxwell said, as many of the hamsters' eyes widen.

"There have been some wanted posters with a hamster that looks a lot like Cappy," pointed out Dexter. "I've seen them on my walks home."

"So have I!" exclaimed Sandy. "Maybe he like did get kidnapped."

"I must admit, I've seen them too and they do look an awful lot like Cappy..." Maxwell said. "But where could he be?"

This caused silence among all the Ham-Hams. It'd be hard to find someone that was missing for so long.

"Maybe I should get a poster," Maxwell said, walking out of the Clubhouse.

As if it was a cue, chatter began among the Ham-Hams. First in whispers, then in regular volume.

"So like," Sandy said. "What really did happen last night?" Her curiosity had gotten the best of her...that was one thing that was certain.

"Well," Bijou frowned. "I guess I could tell you." She sighed and looked down, a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing. "Remember when I offered to stay and help clean up with you?" she asked.

"Yeah," Sandy said. "You went back to the Clubhouse to like put everything away and I went home..."

"When I got out of the Clubhouse I took the usual route home...but it was really dark..." Bijou continued.

"I would figure," Dexter commented, listening in on the conversation. "The party lasted until after twelve and not to mention it was a new moon."

"I stayed there about another hour or so to clean up," Bijou said to Dexter. "Well, anyway," she said, trying to maintain a normal accent for about the millionth time. "I could barely see anything. But since I pretty much memorized the walk home I was sure I could make it."

"I don't know about that Bijou," Pashmina said. "I was positive you were going to walk home with Sandy. I would have stayed a bit longer if you weren't. It's really dangerous at night."

"Me and Sandy's homes are no where near each other," Bijou said with a frown. "It'd just take longer and one of us would end up walking alone anyway..."

"True," Dexter replied. "Go on."

"I heard some sobbing and I followed the sound. As I said before, I could barely see but it looked like Hamtaro was sitting under a tree crying." Deciding to leave out what Hamtaro said, Bijou went on. "Suddenly this firm paw grabbed me from behind. I couldn't get out of his grip."

There were a few gasps in the crowd (mostly from the girls), as all the Ham- Hams' attention were now on Bijou's story.

"He kept dragging me," Bijou said with a frown. "I tried to scream for help but at first the words wouldn't come. Luckily Hamtaro saw what happened and started chasing after the kidnapper. He had me take his paw and try to pull me out of the guy's grip."

"Aww..." Pashmina said. "That sounds like something Hamtaro would do..."

"More like anyone would do!" Howdy snapped. "Who wouldn't help a lady in that situation?"

"Yeah, but he finally stopped and dropped me." Bijou said, referring to the kidnapper. "Hamtaro dragged me towards him and then-" The white hamster fell short on words and a bit pale. The memory was frightening especially when you were victim to it.

"Then what?" Sandy said, on the edge of her seat.

"And then he took out a gun..." Bijou said, almost to the point of tears.

Pashmina and Sandy gasped once again, as the other's eyes widen.

"You poor thing..." Pashmina said, also noticing Hamtaro's absence. "He didn't shoot Hamtaro did he?"

"He would of," Bijou said in a cold distant voice. "He would have shot both of us if the police hadn't come from some miracle."

"Oh thank goodness!" Pashmina exclaimed.

Bijou put on a small smile. "Then the police arrested the kidnapper and took us home," she ended happily. "And that's why Boss is in jail."

"So from what you're saying," Pashmina said, with widen eyes. "Boss was the kidnapper."

"Yeah," Bijou said. "He was. And he was real scary too. I think he was drunk..."

"He probably was," Dexter suggested. "I don't think Boss would do that if he wasn't."

"He may," Pashmina debated. "He's been real weird lately anyway..."

"I can't believe he'd turn on us like that," Sandy said.

"Me either," Bijou replied. The rest agreed.

"Will you have to go to his trial?" Dexter asked.

"Probably," Bijou said, letting out another sigh. "I'd rather not think about it."

"Ohmigosh Bijou!" Sandy exclaimed. "I had like NO clue it was like that. I'm totally sorry for making you tell us."

"It's okay," Bijou said. "Besides, it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be."

"You poor babe," Stan said, putting a paw on Bijou's shoulder, not resisting the chance to flirt the slightest bit with her.

"It's over now," Bijou said. "We're all okay. All I can say is thank god for police!"

The Ham-Hams laughed at this little comment.

"Next time," Sandy said. "We're like defiantly walking home together..."

And with this, Maxwell walked back in the Clubhouse door, wanted poster in his hand.

Final Notes: Well, I thought this was an interesting chapter. Though it did pretty much retell what happened in the last couple chapters or so this is good for new readers that are too lazy (much like me) to read the whole story over. I love hearing suggestions and feedback from you! Please review! (And also, sorry for the grammer and spelling mistakes, again, I was too lazy to read over it twice)