Sorry if anyone is offended at my pitiful attempt at portraying the gangsta culture. I'm a white nerd, so I have no idea how they speak. Anyway, sorry this took so long, but I finished it! Yay! Enjoy!

Chapter 8 -- Attack the Poker Club!

The smells of beer and smoke filled the musty room where the Poker Club held its tournaments. Luxord was once again winning, and Xigbar was completely wasted. Lexaeus, as usual, had not spoken the entire time. Maybe he would have made a better Mori...

"It seems we just may have been successful to get little Roxas to join in our tournament," Luxord noted happily as he shuffled the cards.

"Tha'ss cool, Lussor'!" Xigbar slurred. Then he hiccuped loudly.

"He left in such a hurry, too. I wonder when he will make his way to our club room?" The gambler began dealing out the cards. "Place your bets, gentlemen."

Meanwhile, in the break room, Axel and Zexion were quietly coming up with a way to get Roxas back into the host club.

"Maybe we should apologize for lying to him about Reno and the Heartless," Axel suggested.

"No, it isnt' necessary. He should have guessed that from the start," Zexion replied. He was more concerned about the loss in profit that would occur if Roxas did not come back.

Xaldin, who was sitting back in the corner of the room, finally spoke up. "Well, if young Roxas is more attracted to the gambling lifestyle than the hosting lifestyle, then would it not be better for him to leave?"

Axel looked at Xaldin in shock. "Why would anyone want to go from luxury and fancy clothes to cards and beer?"

"Maybe Roxas fears that he is not living out his full maniless," the Whirlwind Lancer suggested.

"In that case!" Axel walked up to the front of the room. "We will have to make this club more manly!"

"What are you talking about?" Marluxia asked. "I'm already manly!"

"Don't joke around, Flower-boy," Demyx sneered.

"Okay! Here is the plan!" Axel shouted. The other host club members listened in anticipation.

The next day, Roxas was walking through the castle, fingering through his bed-head. "Maybe I should take Namine's advice and comb it better," he mumbled as he passed the poker room.

"Young lad!"

Roxas turned to see Luxord, Xigbar, and Lexaeus standing by the door to the poker room. Xigbar looked as though he were experiencing a strong hangover.

"We have come to show the Host Club that you are indeed more fit to be a poker player," Luxord declared with a grin.

"Uh, okay?" Roxas continued on to the break room. The poker club eagerly followed.

Roxas opened the door, and on peering in he saw that the lights were off.

"Huh? I must be the first one here," he muttered.

Suddenly, loud rap music began playing from the center of the room.

"The Host Club! Represent!" came a voice over the music. Bright spotlights shown on the host club, decked out in hip-hop clothing and standing casually. Axel was wearing a muscle shirt and baggy jeans. A large baseball cap sat awkwardly on Demyx's head, and he wore a big t-shirt and red athletic shorts. Marluxia's pink hair stuck out from under a bandana, and his large sweatpants clashed with his oversized polo shirt. Xaldin's outfit included a basketball jersey and giant jeans. Zexion, the only one not dressed in street attire, wore a crisp suitcoat and pants, although his oxford shirt hung sloppily out of his pants.

"What is this?" Luxord shouted in dismay.

"We are true dudes, yo!" Marluxia exclaimed, trying to fake a hip-hop accent.

"This hat is pretty sweet!" Demyx noted as he played around with the angle of the cap on his head.

Axel approached Roxas, whose face was still white with shock. "You see, Roxas, if it's maniless you want, you can still be as masculine as you want around here! Plus we've got street culture!"

"Ha ha ha!"

Roxas had burst out laughing, and he could barely catch his breath.

"Are you trying to mock the gambling culture?" Luxord yelled angrily. "We play cards like sophisticated gentlemen!"

Roxas finally calmed down enough to be able to talk. "No. It's just that you all look so ridiculous!" He stood up straight and looked at each of the host club members. "I don't care about the club not being completely manly. It's just that, well..." Then he shrugged. "I guess I'm having a little bit of fun from it after all."

"Yay! Daughter made Daddy proud!" Axel gave Roxas a big hug.

"We thought you were mad at us for lying!" Demyx said.

"Of course I'm mad," replied Roxas as he glared at Axel. "I should at least be in on some of the secrets that go on here since I'm in the club and all."

Axel, as usual, had only heard the beginning. "Daughter's mad..." He slouched to the floor and began sulking.

"Dear Roxas, you mean you will stay with this ridiculous club?!" asked Luxord in shock.

"Sure, why not?"

Luxord glared at the other host club members. "We shall take our leave for now. But mark my words! We will return!" Then he left with the sick Xigbar and Lexaeus.

"Yay, Roxas is back!" Marluxia shouted happily.

"At least now our profits won't suffer," muttered Zexion as he scribbled information on his clipboard.