Author's Inane Chatter: Ya well, it appears that the 'timid Riku' idea has been well received. At least I haven't had any letter bombs yet. I'm going to stick with the idea, don't worry though! His normal attitude that we all know and love will be back! Just not this chapter.

To all of you who reviewed: Thanks a bunchness. Please, review this one too!

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Chapter 3: part of the Group

Sora stumbled downstairs, dressed and ready for school. Damn, Riku wasn't here yet. Where was the bastard? They had to go to breakfast still. Rule was, get dressed for school before going anywhere near the food. Sora made sure he always followed this rule. He loved his food.

"Hey, Sora!" He looked up at his name, to be greeted by a girl with dark brown hair and big green eyes. Damn. Selphie smiled at him then looked over his shoulder, as if looking for someone. Another girl stepped up next to her, also looking for someone. More and more girls followed, until Sora was entirely hemmed in. And they all had an extremely evil glint in their eyes.

"Where is he?"

"What's he like?"

"Have you seen him naked?"

"Kyaa!"

The questions went on and on. Sora sighed, realising the focus of their questions. He shouldered his way through the pack of girls and clapped said focus of attention–who had just come down the stairs-on the shoulder. "Hey, unless you want to be stuck here, better run."

Riku glanced over at the girls, who had now been joined by most of the boarding house. "Shit. I was hoping to just be normal..."

"RUN!" Sora yelled, grabbing Riku's arm and bolting.

As they ran, Riku kept mentally kicking himself. Oh yeah, you'll fit in. None of them'll care that you're royalty. Real intelligent. They all just wanna use you. You should have remembered that, and stayed home with your tutor, he thought angrily. Sora led them up the path towards the dining room, stopping just short and pulling him into the shadows of the medical centre. "Sorry 'bout that, Riku. Forgot about the assholes who just liked your position..."

Riku grinned and shook his head. "Nah, I'm kinda used to it. But... I wonder if any of them'll treat me like a normal kid?"

'That's easy. Pull the pinecone out and you'll do just fine," Sora grinned.

Riku socked his arm. "Bastard." He stormed off in mock-anger towards the dining hall.

Riku and Sora stopped at the entrance. The line wasn't that long, but long enough. The closest person noticed them and whispered to his neighbour, who whispered to hers, and so on. Pretty soon the whole hall was staring at the two friends. "Don't stand in the way, bro. People are hungry," Roxas startled the pair, propelling them inside. "So, you two seem to be actually getting along now. That's great."

Riku glanced at Sora once, a sidelong glance part wariness and part amusement. Sora just shook his head and muttered darkly. He was not a morning person, and so far little had inspired him to become otherwise.

After finally managing to grab trays of food, the three slid into their customary table. Unfortunately, most of the eyes in the dining hall were following them, whispers emanating from any group of people. Sora leaned in, beckoning Riku and his brother to do the same. "You know... this is really creepy."

Roxas grinned. "I've got an idea." He pulled out from his shirt pocket a miniature notebook and a pen. The whole boarding house knew that notebook. All bar Sora feared said notebook. Roxas grinned a sadistic grin and flipped it open.

The response was immediate. Everyone in the whole room quickly turned back to their trays, suddenly more interested in their over-done sausages and fried eggs than the small group at the back table. Riku stared. "Roxas... What did you do?"

Roxas showed Riku the notebook, flipping through some of the pages. The book was filled with detailed plans of everything from pranks to the boarding house. The second half of the book was devoted solely to the former. "I write down my ideas for pranks in here. I keep 'em catalogued and use them on people who piss me off. Go figure," he said nonchalantly.

Riku sighed in wonder. "Sora, just how do you know this crazy bastard?"

Sora grinned and threw an arm around his sibling. "Why, he's my adorable younger twin!"

Roxas grumbled and punched Sora in the arm. Riku hid a smile behind a hand. "So, your highness," Roxas said with a vague sense of a challenge. He clearly didn't believe that the prince was quite ready to be befriended. "Howcome you're so friendly now?"

Riku grinned and leaned close so prying ears couldn't hear him. "It's amazing what one night together can do," he whispered.

Roxas turned in his seat, facing his now-grinning brother. "You didn't."

"Didn't what?"

"I dunno about Prince Pinecone here, but you can't be gay."

Riku waved a hand from side to side, warding off strange ideas. "You completely over-reacted, you psycho. We talked, that's all."

The psyched-up blond calmed down almost immediately. "Oh, that's okay then." He shook his head. "Well, as long as Sora thinks you're an okay guy, then I guess I can live with it. So, wanna join our little gang?"

Riku nodded, beaming. Finally, things were going his way!

Lunch hour came around once more. Sora, Roxas, Riku, Axel and Demyx had once again snagged a table to themselves, the sixth seat occupied by a smirking Larxene. Axel spent the time between glaring at Riku and watching his girlfriend warily. He may have liked her, but he certainly wasn't into the whole zapping thing. "So... Tell me again why he is here with us?" Axel said harshly, waving his salad roll in the prince's general direction.

"That's easy. He's my friend, Axel. And if you don't like it, then tough cookies," Sora stated heatedly.

Axel raised his hands, warding off the angry brunet. "Sorry, man! I just got the impression that you believed this guy had a pinecone shoved up his-"

"Well he does, but occasionally he manages to get rid of it," Roxas quipped.

Riku glared at the blond boy. Then, deciding the only member of the fairer sex at the table was infinitely more interesting than the abusive blond, he turned to examine her. "Um... we haven't met, have we?" He said timidly, as if afraid of being rejected. Sora found himself wanting to squeeze the boy's hand in comfort.

"No, no we haven't. If I told you I was Sora's sister, would you believe me?" she asked him, smiling at the prince's shyness.

"If you had anything to do with the tasers in his doorframe, then yes. I would believe you."

Larxene grinned at Sora. "He's a sharp one, he is!" Turning back to the confused Riku, she shook her head. "No, I'm not related to anyone on this table. The only real reason I'm around is to keep the peace in this bunch of rascals."

"Which she does admirably," Demyx said happily. He suddenly jumped. "Larxene, that wasn't very nice!" he whined.

Eventually the conversation turned back to Riku and his place at the table. "Well, as long as you're gonna hang out with us, pick a job," Axel told him bluntly.

Riku cocked his head to one side. "Job?"

Sora nodded quickly. "Yeah, a job. Roxas does the planning, I put the pieces together, Demyx does distractions, Axel burns stuff and Larxene co-ordinates. So what'll you do?"

Riku's confusion turned to surprise. "Oh, that's what this is about! Well... uh... How about..." the poor boy looked flustered.

Once more Sora came to his rescue. "Don't worry about it, you'll find a niche for yourself eventually."

Wow, so this is what it's like to have friends? Riku thought as he watched the group chat and laugh around the table. I think I could come to enjoy this.

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Author's Rambles: Heh heh, Prince Pinecone never actually answered Roxas' question... So don't worry, my faithful fans. Riku's only interaction with women shall be... who knows?

Niccolo: Here we go. Kindly review, or you know what'll happen.

Riku: Get that crazy author away from me!

Niccolo: (waves barney doll) Aw, come on, Riku! Barney wants some... company...

Riku: Please, for the love of God, REVIEW! Or... (shudder) Nicky'll do it! Please, save me!

Niccolo: By the way, next chapter is EXTRA LONG, as long as you guys review. So now you have added incentive!