Chapter Nine: Pashmina And Sandy's Talk

Listen, I would like to tell you that Hamtaro is not a jerk, he gives back to Andre what Andre gives to him. The explanation is in this chapter, AND I'm finished writing this story, and I update on special occasions. Just read the special paragraph that has asterisks ( * ) surrounding it.

**********The Parlor**********

"I remember the first time I saw Bijou." Andre stated, "The aristocratic families all know each other. When my muzzer told me that I was engaged to someone, I was furious. I didn't want to be married to anybody at all. But when Maria first brought Bijou over to Carlos's flat, I fell in love."

"With her looks." added Hamtaro who was sitting on the bench connected to the bay window, watching the rain. The thing that Andre had said yesterday kept haunting him. He decided that the best thing to do was ignore it, and try to make Andre feel like the crummy one.

"Well, Monsieur Feroce, you obviously can't fall in love with someone's personality when you first see them, so of course I first fell in love with her looks."

"And it's remained that way, hasn't it?" Hamtaro said blankly. Andre threw Hamtaro a furious scowl.

"So where was I? Oh, right, anyway when I first said something to her, I said 'You are the most beautiful Ham-Girl I have ever seen. And with a Ham as perfect as myself, I assure you, you could never get tired of me.'"

"And what did she say?" Stan asked. Only the Ham-Boys were sitting in the parlor, basically telling stories about the ones they cared for.

"That iz not important." Andre quickly supplied.

"I know what she said." Hamtaro replied, still staring at the rain as if anticipating to see something. "It probably went something like this 'I hate you. You insolent, self-centered creep. Why don't you go kiss a mirror, you narcissistic Ham?'" Hamtaro ended while clearing his throat. He thought he did a pretty good job in respectfully imitating Bijou's voice.

All the Ham-Boys applauded Hamtaro's little tale, but Hamtaro quickly returned to staring out the window, apparently he had more important things on his mind. But Andre kept absolutely still, and Boss didn't laugh for Andre's sake, though Boss's face carried a smirk.

"That iz not what happened." Andre hissed through gritted teeth.

"Let me guess, 'I hate you. You insolent, self-centered creep. Why don't you go kiss a mirror, you narcissistic Ham?' and then she slapped you?" Hamtaro suggested. But his face held no emotion. Obviously, even insulting Andre wouldn't bring him out of the trance he was in.

This time, all the Boy-Hams (including Boss) roared with laughter. Andre went red with hate. Pashmina and Sandy entered the room to see what all the noise was about.

"You can't even spell narcissistic." Andre spat.

"You can't even pronounce narcissistic." Hamtaro said. His focus was still on the window.

"Heke?" Pashmina and Sandy asked in unison.

"Maxy, what's so funny?" Sandy asked with huge puppy dog eyes.

Maxwell quickly put down his "How To Work A VCR Clock" book and explained to Sandy what had just happened. Pashmina and Sandy quickly stifled their giggles. Pashmina watched Hamtaro. Bijou had explained to her what had happened the day before. "That Andre has some nerve." Pashmina thought, recalling the day the Hams first met Andre. At first, Pashmina didn't think Andre was such a jerk, but now she couldn't agree more. Hamtaro took what Andre said very seriously, but why? "Oh my gosh!" Pashmina quietly gasped. Why had she never seen this before? It all made perfect sense now!

**********Bijou's Room**********

Bijou sat at the maple desk in her room. She was watching the rain intently through the beautiful French-glass doors that led to her balcony. She mentally kicked herself. She remembered the hurt look on Hamtaro's face right after Andre's little outburst. "Hamtaro should be the one saying that to him." She thought to herself. Then she noticed something on the balcony. It was bright, like a neon ball. No wait, it was... floating? It was a yellow, floating orb. "What on earth?" She asked as she stepped out onto her balcony.

**********Bijou's Balcony**********

She watched it. It zoomed around her. She rubbed her eyes, and blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing things. It looked familiar, as though she had seen it in a dream. She tried to touch it, but stepped back when it started to rain even harder. Even though they were Ham-Humans, they were all still terrified of water. But Bijou decided to conquer her fears and step out farther into the balcony. That's when Pashmina entered.

"Bijou, what are you doing?"

**********Bijou's Room**********

Bijou quickly stepped into the room, believing that Pashmina could not see the orb. "Uhh.. nothing"

"You were doing nothing standing on the balcony in the pouring rain?" Pashmina asked while putting her hands on her hips.

"You zoo not believe me?" Bijou asked in a fake appalled tone.

"Anyway, Bijou I have something dyer to tell you." Pashmina ended with a serious glance at Bijou.

"Go on" Bijou encouraged.

"Well, it all started when I was sitting in the parlor, and I was thinking about what you said Andre said."

"Uh-huh" said Bijou wanting to hear more.

"The thing is, I realized something very important about the your relationship with-" Pashmina stopped dead in her tracks. It appeared that she had spotted the orb.

"Bijou, what is that?"

"I don't know either. I noticed it a few minutes before you came in."

"We should go see..." Pashmina said.

Bijou stared at her friend for a moment then nodded her head. So the two friends carefully stepped outside.

**********Bijou's Balcony**********

The winds started picking up, and Pashmina quickly wrapped her scarf around her neck. Bijou, who had no means of protection from the growing storm, stepped out reluctantly with her hands succumbed around her elbows. Pashmina and Bijou watched the orb.

"This is just getting weird" Pashmina said as the orb came closer to her. Then all of a sudden, Bijou didn't know how it happened, and Pashmina didn't see it coming, but Pashmina and Bijou were swept away by the wind. Bijou, who was closer to the balustrade, held on for dear life. Pashmina had nothing to grab onto, except Bijou's hand.

"Pashmina don't let go!" Bijou cried.

"I'm trying hard not to!" Pashmina answered. Luckily, Bijou's balcony was exactly three floors above the parlor's bay window.

**********The Parlor**********

"I said turn around at look at me." Andre commanded Hamtaro.

Hamtaro rolled his eyes. And started staring at the storm yet again. This made Andre infuriated.

"I wouldn't expect any better out of a savage anyway." Andre muttered to himself.

"I can hear that too." Stan added.

"Do I care about your abnormally large ears and their hearing capability?!" Andre practically shushed Stan.

"Guys," said Hamtaro "Do you hear that?" There was a very faint 'Help' heard all throughout the parlor, and the voices were getting louder. Pretty soon the voices were recognizable.

"That's Bijou and Pashmina!" Exclaimed Hamtaro, Boss, Howdy and Dexter. They all raced outside.

**********Bijou's Balcony**********

"Pashmina please hold on a bit longer, I don't know nothing about saving no people!" Bijou cried

"Well frankly Miss Bijou, I don't give a cat!" Pashmina complained back. Bijou was leaning over the balcony, holding on dearly to her friend. Both of her hands grasped Pashmina's, and all they could do was hope that someone could hear their cries. The thundering storm made it so that they could hardly hear each other. The orb was zooming and zipping around Bijou, but she did her best to ignore it.

**********The Front Lawn Of The Villa**********

The Hams carefully stepped outside into the lashing rain, and then they looked up. "Oh no!" The Hams moaned as they watched this scene.

"Please somebody help us!!!" The could hear Bijou plead. Bijou was extremely close to falling over the banister herself.

"Somebody's gotta help her!" Hamtaro said stating the obvious. Howdy and Dexter watched as this horrific scenario got worse: Bijou's grip was loosening on Pashmina.

**********Bijou's Balcony**********

Bijou was trying desperately to hold onto her friend. The truth is, they didn't know what was happening. The orb started to circulate around their arms, and as it orbited, their grip loosened.

"What's going on?!" Bijou questioned the heavens. She could feel Pashmina slipping out of her hands. And then it happened: Pashmina fell.

**********The Front Lawn Of The Villa**********

"Pashmina!!!!!" Dexter and Howdy yelled as her hand slipped from Bijou.

**********Bijou's Balcony**********

"NOOOO!!!!!!" Bijou yelled as Pashmina fell into the dark abyss of the storm.

**********The Front Lawn Of The Villa**********

And Pashmina fell in a state of shock into Jingle's arms. Jingle had a smug look on his face, proud of his accomplishment, yet Jingle himself was in complete unbelief that he had caught her.

"It's your fault!" Howdy and Dexter snickered to each other. Pashmina fainted in Jingle's arms.

**********Pashmina, Sandy, And Penelope's Bedroom**********

"Are you okay?" Was the first thing Pashmina heard when she was awake. The first thing she saw was all the Hams surrounding her bed, and Bijou sitting right next to her, she had a worried look on her face.

"I'm fine you guys, and thanks Jingle." Pashmina blushed as she remembered landing into Jingle's arms.

"Where the wind blows, I follow. My path lead me to your distress, and the wind whispered and told me to save you."

"Heke?" All the Hams thought.

"How can the wind whisper?" Oxnard asked Hamtaro. Hamtaro shrugged. He could convince people that he was engaged to Bijou, but not understand Jingle.

"Pashmina, I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened, but I'm so sorry" Bijou apologized.

Pashmina smiled. "It's all right Bijou, I know you held on as tight as you could. Besides, I'm all right, thanks to Jingle".

Josie entered the room with a damp cloth in her hand. "Here," she said "You need this."

"Thanks" Pashmina replied.

"Let me get you some tea." Dexter suggested

"No, allow me." Howdy objected

"No me!"

"No me!" And the two of them raced downstairs. But when the Hams heard a loud CRASH, all of them, besides Pashmina, Bijou, and Sandy, fled down the stairs.

"I'll make you some chamomile tea." Bijou said getting up, and apologizing once more. "By the way, Pashmina" she said as she reached the door, "What was the dyer thing you wanted to tell me?"

"Ummm, I forgot" Pashmina fibbed. Bijou could tell she was lying, and so could Sandy, but Bijou decided it'd be best not to bother Pashmina about it. Sandy had other plans.

Making sure Bijou left, Sandy asked "Pashmina, what was the dyer thing you were going to tell her?"

"Nothing" answered Pashmina in a whatever-do-you-mean voice. "What a sweet girl she is isn't she? It wasn't her fault I fell. Technically it was the orb's." Pashmina said trying to change the subject.

"What orb?" Sandy asked curiously.

"You didn't see it?" Pashmina asked in a baffled voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Sandy replied putting her hand on Pashmina's forehead. "Is your scarf on too tightly or something?"

Pashmina decided not to bother Sandy about this. Perhaps she and Bijou were the only ones to see it. "Never mind. I was probably hallucinating or something."

Sandy sighed "If you say so. But Pashmina what were you about to tell her? Please tell me, you know I can keep a secret."

"Sandy, I want you to tell me he honest truth when I ask you this question ok?" Sandy slowly nodded. "Well, is it just me, or is there something real going on between our little fake fiancees?"

Sandy thought for a second. Of course it was obvious to her that Hamtaro and Bijou shared a bond stronger than friendship, but..."I don't know" she quietly replied.

"Oh c'mon Sandy. The way Bijou greets Hamtaro everyday batting her eyelashes, or the way Hamtaro is the one who always saves Bijou, and what about that dip at the party? You can't deny that there's something there. I realized this when I was watching Hamtaro sulk around all day after what Andre said about Hamtaro not deserving Bijou."

"Wow" thought Sandy. Pashmina had put most of the pieces together, and they fit perfectly. "Maybe Pashmina, just maybe, there is something there. But what about Boss, Hamtaro would never like Bijou because Boss saw her first."

"Hamtaro would never admit he liked Bijou because Boss saw her first." Pashmina corrected "Otherwise, I think it's quite obvious."

"Then why doesn't Bijou just admit her feelings for Hamtaro?"

"Sandy, Sandy, Sandy, girls never admit their feelings first. It's an unwritten rule. Besides, Bijou's also just afraid that she'll get her heartbroken if Hamtaro doesn't return her feelings."

"So you were going to tell Bijou that you think Hamtaro likes her?" Sandy asked.

"Bingo!" Pashmina beamed "But,"

"But what?"

"But, I believe that there was someone or something that didn't want me to let Bijou know." Pashmina explained.

"And you got this idea from where exactly?" Sandy skeptically asked.

"Well, remember that orb I was talking about?"

"Uh-huh"

"Me and Bijou saw the orb around her balcony right before I was going to tell her about my realization. When we went outside, I don't know how, but I fell off the balcony. Then, when Bijou was holding on pretty tightly to me, the orb circled around me and Bijou's arms, and don't laugh at this part, but as it circled, Bijou's grip got looser."

Sandy placed her hand once again on Pashmina's forehead. "Don't worry, Pashmina. Bijou is getting some tea for you right now, and then you can take a long nice nap." she said slowly.

"Uhh! Get your hand off of me. I am fine, but you've got to believe me on what I just told you." She said impatiently.

Sandy was worried about Pashmina's current mental state. "Sure I believe you, Pashmina, but you need some rest right now." She calmly stated at a snail's pace.

"Sandy, you are seriously getting on my last nerve! Right now I want you to call Bijou and tell her that Hamtaro likes her. Got me!?"

Sandy, taken aback by Pashmina's little flare-up, decided to attend to Pashmina's requires, jut to please her. "Fine, Pashmina, I'll get Bijou and tell her what you think is true. Hey Bijou- *cough*cough*cough*cough*cough*" It seemed that Sandy had something caught in her throat.

"Are you okay, Sandy?" Pashmina asked, not believing the superstition in all of this.

"Never *cough* better *cough*" Sandy answered with time.

"Here" Pashmina offered a glass of water to Sandy. "You should rest, Sandy. That cough looks serious."

When Sandy finally got some control over her cough, she noticed the triumphant grin on Pashmina's face. "What's so funny?" Sandy asked in the same voice that Andre would call Hamtaro a savage.

"Oh, nothing. I was just realizing how you suddenly started to cough when you were gonna tell Bijou about my hypothesis."

"No, Pashmina. I started coughing because I probably had something stuck in my throat." Sandy corrected, already realizing what Pashmina was gonna say.

Pashmina's lips curled for a second. "Sandy, I want you to tell Hamtaro that Bijou likes him."

"That's a little personal, don't you think?"

"It's simple Sandy, really. All you have to do is tell Hamtaro tonight when we're making dinner that Bijou likes him."

"Pashmina, I'm not gonna tell Hamtaro something we don't even know is true. It's like spreading a rumor." Sandy explained.

"Sandy, don't tell him directly, that'd be stupid. Just get the idea that Bijou likes him in his head. Like, say something that sounds like this 'Hamtaro have you ever thought about what would happen if Bijou liked you?'" Pashmina ended folding her arms.

Sandy was left thinking for a moment

**********The Kitchen**********

Sandy waited for just the right moment. She watched Hamtaro wash the dishes, carefully keeping the water from touching him. Bijou was stirring a large pot of tomato and vegetable stew, and Oxnard was diligently preparing a garlic sauce for the bread, under Bijou's supervision of course. All Sandy had to do was wait and make Bijou and Oxnard leave the room.

"Hmmm, I'm going to go to the cellar and get some oregano." Bijou blankly said as she stared at the stew.

"Perfect" Sandy thought. "Hey Oxnard, do you mind getting me the bag of flour from the cellar, I think it's way to heavy for Bijou to carry?" Sandy asked. Originally, Sandy had been planning to get Oxnard out of the room by using the flour excuse, but with Bijou going, it made the plan all the more easier.

"I guess so" Oxnard answered.

"Great" said Sandy as she thought of how difficult it would be for Oxnard to find the bag of flour because there was none!

Sandy made sure that Bijou and Oxnard went down to the cellar by watching them go down the stairs. Then Sandy returned to the kitchen and put down the bread knife she was using to cut the stiffened Italian bread. She stared at Hamtaro once more just to make sure he didn't suspect anything. Sandy supposed he didn't for he was trying to get the liquid soap out of its container. And then Sandy noticed something.

It was like a bright, little, yellow spark. It was very strong, for Sandy could feel the light blinding her as she watched the spark from the corner of her eye. But Hamtaro seemed to notice nothing. How could he not? Sandy noticed the spark flying outside the window, and the sink was right under the window.

"No" Sandy said to herself, "Do not become Pashmina and start seeing things that are not there." But Sandy couldn't help but think how Hamtaro could not notice this. He just washed the dishes as usual. Then the spark vanished as quickly as it appeared. "That was weird" Sandy said blinking her eyes several times to make sure there was nothing wrong with them.

"What was?" Hamtaro asked from his place at the sink. He was a little surprised at Sandy's little eruption.

"Oh nothing, I was just thinking about a weird human ritual that Hilary does, yeah, I think it's called skiing the net or something." Sandy quickly covered up while a huge sweat drop appeared at the back of her head.

"Okay" Hamtaro said.

"Hey Hamtaro?" Sandy asked feeling the moment was perfect.

"Hmmm?" Hamtaro looked up giving Sandy his trademark smile. He missed this smile, it seem that with this whole fake fiancee thing, he felt that a new side had emerged from him, especially when around Andre, Hamtaro didn't like this side, but it came out every time Andre was near. It was like he had no control over himself anymore. Bijou had told him that she didn't approve of his new "Behavior" around Andre, but what could Hamtaro say to her "Sorry, Bijou, it's just that I can't control my rage when I'm around Andre, I hate him that much." 'Hmmm' Now that Hamtaro thought about it, it didn't seem that bad.

* Hamtaro was a Ham-HUMAN now. He had HUMAN feelings, not giddy and happy hamster feelings anymore. He felt a warm tingling sensation only around Bijou. He felt hatred jealousy when Boss tried to flirt with Bijou, but the emotion that emerged the strongest (Other than his feelings for Bijou) was the pure, the blood-boiling, the erupting abhorrence in his heart for Andre. HE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THIS EMOTION WHATSOEVER. HE TRIED TO CONTROL HIS ANGER, BUT IT WAS LIKE A WHOLE NEW PERSON HAD COME OUT OF HIM WHEN HE WAS NEAR ANDRE. *

"Well, I was thinking, but technically I don't think it's just me, I mean Pashmina and I think a few of the other Hams have noticed it too, but I think that there's-Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!" Had Sandy injured herself? The other Hams led by Maxwell came to Sandy's side.

"What's wrong, Sandy?" Maxwell asked in a concerned voice.

"I cut myself with the knife!" Sandy moaned clutching her finger and pushing it up to his face as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I'll get you a bandage." Hamtaro said as he went off to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

**********The Drawing Room**********

When Hamtaro returned with the bandage, all the Hams had already moved to the drawing room, crowding around Sandy who was lying on the couch.

Maxwell warily wrapped the bandage cloth around Sandy's throbbing finger. Meanwhile, Pashmina watched from her place on the recliner, trying to hide her leer. When all the commotion had calmed down, Pashmina went up to Sandy.

"Sandy what were you doing right before you cut yourself?" she asked making sure no one was listening. Sandy signaled for Pashmina to sit down next to her.

"Well I was about to tell Hamtaro right after I sent Bijou and Oxnard out of the room, and then I put my knife down-" Sandy ended staring blankly at nothing and then turned to Pashmina and said "Pashmina, I put my knife down. How could I have possibly cut myself then?"

Pashmina thought a little, and then asked "Did you see any bright yellow thing anywhere in the room?"

"No" Sandy answered

Pashmina sighed a defeated sigh.

"It was outside the window." Sandy stated. Pashmina smiled at this.

"I told you." she giggled with delight. "Now, can't you see what somebody or something's trying to do?"

"It's true." Sandy thought to herself. "Pashmina, you have convinced me that there's something out there that doesn't want Hamtaro or Bijou to ever find out their feelings for each other."

"But who?" The both of them were left thinking.

********************

Enjoy that chapter? I hope you did. Please R/R, I love all the reviews I get.

Tootles,

Celestial Night