Hey everyone! For those of you who don't know me...which is probably most of you...I used to be fairly active on about 4 years ago. Then college happened. I'm still in college (yes, I am an adult who likes Hamtaro...wanna fight about it?), but I found time to write again, and I've really been wanting to finish this particular story (which really I've barely even started!).

So start at chapter 1, give it a read and let me know what you think so far.

And if anyone is reading this that remembers me from back in the day – holla!

-Genie

Bijou felt the heat rising in her cheeks as she watched Boss disappear back in the direction of the clubhouse. She had always known that Boss liked her, but he had never been so forward about it...Bijou wasn't quite sure how to feel. She had always considered Boss to be one of her best friends, a big brother almost...But this? And what was he talking about, her being in danger? Having to stay home, hide herself? She was overwhelmed and confused and didn't know where to turn. So she sat down on the windowsill, buried her head in her paws and burst into tears.

"Don't cry! Please don't cry!"

Bijou looked up, startled. The tears were flowing freely from her eyes and clouding her vision, but she immediately recognized the orange and white blur making its way across the branches outside her window.

Hamtaro leapt deftly from the tree onto the windowsill and sat down next to Bijou. He lifted a paw to wipe away an errant tear but instead found himself locked in the tightest embrace he'd ever felt.

"Hamtaro, I am so scared!" Bijou cried, her tears now soaking into his fur.

"I know, Bijou. I heard everything Boss told you." He returned her embrace and gently stroked her back with one paw. "It's going to be ok. I'm here for you."

"No, Hamtaro," Bijou said, sitting up and pushing him back. "You must leave. If I am in danger, then – then so are you if you stay here!"

Hamtaro looked surprised at the sudden outburst, but he could see that Bijou meant what she said. Nonetheless, he couldn't stand the thought of leaving her alone in this ordeal. "I can't leave you, Bijou," he replied. "If you are in danger, I should be here to protect you!"

"Please," Bijou whimpered, her voice small and choking with tears. "Please, Hamtaro. You have to leave." She stood up, took him by the paw and helped him to his feet. "You – you can come check on me tomorrow if it makes you feel better. But for now, I need to be alone."

Hamtaro didn't want to argue any further, so he resigned himself to defeat. "I'll be back tomorrow, and I'll bring you something to cheer you up, too," he told her, feeling tears welling up behind his eyes as he spoke. "Just...look out for yourself, ok?"

"I will, Hamtaro." She raised a paw to her lips, then pressed it gently against his cheek. "I will."

It was late in the evening, and Boss was pacing the floor of the clubhouse, mumbling to himself and trying to sort out everything that was happening. Bijou was safe, for now; but Scuzz would be back, no doubt, and who knew what plans he had in store?

"No rest for the weary," Snoozer pointed out, enigmatic as always.

"No rest indeed," Boss replied, sighing deeply and plopping himself into his easy chair. There was no way he'd be able to sleep tonight. Besides, even if he did fall asleep, he'd only dream those horrible dreams again.

"Company's here," Snoozer mumbled after a brief pause.

"Eh?" Boss sat up straight and looked around at the sleeping hamster. "What are you-"

But he was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Boss froze, realizing immediately who was waiting behind the door. He sank back down in the chair and remained as still as possible, hoping that Scuzz would think he was simply not at home and leave him in peace.

But it was not to be. "Boss, I know you're in there," the gruff voice came, followed by a series of more insistent knocks. "Open the damn door. You're not fooling anyone."

"Get out of here!" Boss replied, raising his voice in an attempt to conceal the fear in it.

"Boss, open this door or so help me God I will break it down," Scuzz answered, this time in a sing-song voice. God, how Boss hated that – Scuzz always seemed to have so much fun being evil.

Hesitantly, his heart pounding in his chest, Boss crept towards the door and put a tentative paw on the knob.

"That's right," Scuzz jeered from the other side of the door. "Now open up."

Boss drew a deep breath and opened the door just enough to see Scuzz's giant grin and leering eyes looking back at him.

"What do you want?" Boss asked him, his voice shaking.

"You already know what I want," Scuzz replied, his grin widening.

"And you know the answer!" Boss growled back. "I'm not going to give Bijou to you. Not now, not ever. I would sooner die a thousand horrible deaths."

"Well, that can be arranged," Scuzz chuckled. "But first things first. You will take me to her. Tonight. Now."

"Never!" Boss shouted, and opened the door just enough so that he could slam it in Scuzz's face, a rather desperate attempt to appear dominant.

"Oh no?" Scuzz responded, his voice clearly audible, if somewhat muffled, from the other side of the door. "I think I can change your mind."

Boss' head was swimming, his mind racing, his heart skipping every other beat. He couldn't bear to face Scuzz again – but then, what choice did he have?

He opened the door again, this time all the way, and stared Scuzz squarely in the eye, summoning all of his courage. "How do you plan on doing that?" he asked.

"Well," Scuzz grinned enthusiastically, obviously quite pleased with himself, "what if I made you an offer you simply couldn't refuse? A sort of two-for-one deal?"

Boss didn't like the sound of this.

Night had fallen, and with it Bijou - into a fretful sleep. She was tossing and turning, trying to rid her mind of images of terrifying and evil things.

It was a warm summer's evening, and Maria had left the window open. Wind was blowing against the curtains, making eerie noises and dreadful shadows that invaded Bijou's dreams. All of a sudden, the sound of paws on the windowsill awakened Bijou from her sleep – she sat bolt upright and let out a yelp of terror as a dark figure, wrapped in a hooded cloak, appeared before her.

"Hush!" the figure commanded in a soft, almost motherly voice. She lifted a paw to her lips to indicate silence.

Bijou was trembling, but the stranger reached out a paw and placed it on her arm to calm her. "I am not going to hurt you," she assured Bijou. "I'm here to protect you. You aren't safe here."

"But – but I was told – Boss told me that I was only safe if I stayed here! I can't leave!"

"Boss didn't know what was in store," the stranger replied. "If he had seen this coming, I'm sure he would have done more to protect you. It's easy to underestimate the forces of evil when you've got good on your side."

"What – what do you mean?" Bijou whimpered, still shaking from the shock of it all.

"All will be explained in good time," the stranger replied, "but for now we must leave."

"Wait!" Bijou cried as the stranger took her paw and began to lead her toward the window. "How do I know I can trust you?"

The stranger paused. Her face was invisible beneath the hood of her cloak, save for a soft smile that crossed her lips. Without a word, she lifted Bijou's paw to her own face and held it against her cheek.

No words were needed – Bijou knew she was in good hands.

"So, Boss, ready to hear what we've got to offer you tonight?" Scuzz asked, sounding more like a game show host than the despicable cur that he was.

Of course he wasn't ready. So he simply stood there, rooted to the spot, drawing short, anxious breaths. Like a game show contestant waiting to hear what he's won. Except there was terror in his eyes rather than excitement.

Scuzz smiled that awful, evil grin of his and snapped his fingers. From the darkness beyond them, four figures emerged. Rock and Mitch, two of Scuzz's minions, marched forward, flanking two other hamsters that Boss knew all too well.

"Friends of yours?" Scuzz mused with a hateful little chuckle.

"Howdy...Dexter..." Boss stammered. Their paws were bound behind their backs, and Rock and Mitch had a firm grasp on their upper arms. They looked like they'd been through hell already – matted fur, scrapes and bruises, and a pained expression in their eyes told Boss more than he needed to know.

"Help," Howdy gasped, the desperation in his voice enough to break Boss's heart.

That's chapter 3! I've already got most of chapter 4 done too, but not gonna upload it until I get some reviews.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Genie