Okay, this is chapter 3. I have only bits and pieces of what's going to go on throughout the story, but this will take place during the gang's junior and senior years (or in Sora's case, his sophomore and junior year).

Now…On with it!

-Recap-

"Why? Interested?"

"…What the hell? Where did that come from?"

-End Recap-

French class passed by very quickly. Mr. Ienzo was really nice and gave no homework for the week, just to give some time for little Marly to settle in. The junior gang was in the hallway, on their way to their last class.

"So, what do you have Marluxia?" Cloud asked. Marluxia looked at is schedule and smiled.

"Art…With Mr. LaMuria." The boy cheered inwardly. The blonde Strife shook his head. Oh man, he thought, I bet he's happy. Roxas smiled, too. They both knew about the elder Hayashi's infatuation with art. It's almost like a common fact with them.

"Hey, can I come over today?" Cloud asked, "I mean, I haven't hung out with you all in a while."

"Sure. Mom and Dad are out for and they know you're here. They said that if you want, you can come over, as long as you don't break anything." Roxas said

"Yay!"

"We're a few houses down from your place." The younger Hayashi informed him, "Stop by an hour after school ends. Axel, Demyx, Zexion, Leon, you guys can come, too if you want."

"Okay!"

"You guys go ahead, okay?" the no-longer-pink-haired teen said, stopping in front of his locker, "I have to get a few things. I'll catch up."

"Alright. Don't get lost."

"…You're seriously asking for the thorn bush, aren't you Strife?" he asked, entering the locker combination. The blue-eyed blonde grinned sheepishly before walking away to the art room. Marluxia opened his locker, put away unnecessary textbooks. He closed his locker and sped-walk to the art room, which was at the end of the hall.

Well, things seem to be going well…Especially for the boys…Wonder how Sora's faring…I hope he hasn't gotten into trouble already…Oh Lord, I sound like Mother when she sent me to kindergarten for the first time!

He was so deep into his thoughts, he bumped into someone and their books spilled onto the floor.

"Oh!" Marluxia bent down and started picking up his textbooks, while helping collect the other student's papers, "I'm sorry, I guessed I spaced out…I should have paid more attention to where I was going…"

"That's alright." A lightly accented voice said. Looking up, he saw it was Luxord, "Marluxia, correct?"

"Yeah. You're Luxord, am I right?" asking him, getting up. Luxord nodded

"So, what class do you have next?" the Brit asked

"Ah, I have art."

"Mr. LaMuria, I'm guessing?"

"Yep. You?"

"Oh, I have chemistry with Professor Even. It's right next door."

"I see…Well, I better get going. Wouldn't want to be late."

"Okay. I'll see you around I guess."

"Alright. See ya." The two of them rushed to the end of the hall and went to their designated classes. Marluxia came into the art room, slightly panting.

"Ah! You must be Marluxia!" A man—Mr. LaMuria—exclaimed. He was tall—about 6'3 was his guess—had dark chocolate brown hair that was up to his shoulders and green eyes. He looks pretty young, too—about 26 at most. Mr. LaMuria took a look at Marluxia and asked, "Goodness, did you run all the way here?"

"No, not really…"

"Well, have a seat over there and take a moment to catch your breath." He pointed to a table that was occupied by Demyx, Axel and Cloud. I seem to be very lucky today, getting to sit next to my friends, he thought. As Marly sat down, the bell rang, signaling the beginning of class.

"Geez, man, what happened to you?"

"Nothing…just bumped into someone in the hall…"

"Alright…I won't ask…"

"Okay, class!" Mr. LaMuria cheerfully said, clapping his hands together, "Let's get started. As you all know, it's Friday and I'm sure everyone's anticipating for the end of the school day. What I would like you to do now is to draw what plans you might have on the weekend."

So they all started. On Fridays, Mr. LaMuria lets his classes draw the assignments in any style they want. Demyx drew a stick figure with a little guitar. It seemed that, with the sound effects he included, the stick figure was playing loudly. Axel drew basic shapes—a circle with a half oval below it (for the body) with spiky hair that seemed to be setting something aflame. Cloud drew a squiggle that was playing video games. Zexion actually drew a person that looked almost like him, reading with a Rubix cube and a few puzzles beside him. It wasn't all that good, but he could really care less. Leon felt a bit lazy, so he copied Cloud's style and squiggled himself sleeping on top of a rectangle that resembled a bed. Roxas drew himself playing the piano, cartoon style. Marluxia, although doubting his ability, drew the best out of all of them. He drew himself watching his little brothers goof around the house, a sketch pad with a pencil within the spiral at hand.

"You sure love drawing stick figures, don't you Demyx?" Mr. LaMuria asked, looking over Demyx's shoulder

"Yup! They're my forte!"

Mr. LaMuria chuckled, moving on to see what Axel and Cloud were drawing.

"…Cloud's picture I can understand, but yours, Axel?"

"I'm setting my unnecessary papers from last year on fire." The redhead replied, "I'm making a bonfire out in my backyard and I'll roast some marshmallows. And before you ask, my parents already consented"

"Alright……Ah, Zexion, still reading even in a picture I see."

"Mm-hm……"

"Let's see now…Leon, this is a surprise…You don't squiggle…"

Leon shrugged. The somewhat lanky teacher walked over to Roxas and peered at his work.

"You play?"

"Yes. I just like the feel of my fingers dancing on the keys…" the youngest of the group answered. He couldn't wait to get home so he can start playing.

"And he's really good, too." The blonde next to him added

"I see…" His head turned to Marluxia's paper. The elder Hayashi was oblivious to the fact that his teacher was peering over his shoulder. He seemed to be in full concentration, working on every last detail, "…Marluxia?"

"It's no use, Mr. LaMuria." Cloud told him, "Once he's drawing, he's in his own little world."

"Yeah. It's like art is a necessity to him." Roxas informed his teacher, "He'd probably die without drawing."

"Almost done…" said teen muttered. He finished the shading on Sora's hair and relaxed his hand, complete with his work.

"That's very well done, Marluxia."

The brown-haired boy jumped at the sound of his teacher's voice and whirled around to see him.

"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't notice you…"

"Mars, he's been standing here for almost five minutes now." Demyx informed him

"Oh…Sorry…"

"It's alright. Anyway, that's a nice picture you drew. Is he another one of your brothers?" he asked, pointing to Sora

"Yes. His name is Sora. He's one year my junior, same as Roxas."

"Hey Mars! I didn't know you still had your sketch pad!" Cloud exclaimed, taking the pad sticking out of Marlulxia's open backpack

"Cloud!"

The blue-eyed boy didn't hear him. He skimmed right through the pad. Marluxia felt like banging his head on the table top. That sketch pad is meant only to be seen by himself, Sora and Roxas. That's it.

Mr. LaMuria was amazed at the artwork he saw. So many sketches of his brothers, Destiny Islands, the sky, the ocean… They were the most excellent sketches he had ever seen that was done by a junior year student.

"These are…"

"Crappy, I know……" The boy practically answered for him

"Crappy? These are the most unbelievable drawings I have ever seen in my career!"

"Eh?"

"Mars, you doubt yourself too much." Axel stated, "I mean, if your drawings are bad, then ours are pieces of-!" He paused and remembered that there was a teacher there. Sure, Mr. LaMuria lets them say crap and damn and hell, but not any others, "crap. Then ours are pieces of crap."

"Why is everyone calling me that now?" Marluxia said

"It's better than the other one." Cloud told him, "Unless…you prefer the other one?"

"No." he said almost instantaneously

"Alright then. Question answered."

All of the sudden, the piercing ring of the bell startled the group. They all packed their things as Mr. LaMuria said,

"Alright, everyone, I'll see you all on Monday!"

The group rushed out into the halls, made a quick stop at their lockers and then out into freedom they went! Roxas and Marluxia waited for Sora to come out. When they saw him coming out with Riku, they decided to screw the idea and ditch him, just so those two can get…ahem…some time for bonding.

"You sure he won't kill us, Marluxia?" Roxas asked his elder brother

"Don't worry. If he tries anything, I'll kick his ass anyway."

"So we can come over in an hour, right?" Cloud asked, a bit of excited leaking out of his voice

"Yep!" the two Hayashi boys replied

The two stopped in front of their house a few minutes later. It was a normal sized two story house. It was white in color with a grayish roof. There was a stone walkway leading towards the door that was lined with flowers. A whitish-gray fence surrounded the perimeter of the area.

"Well, guess we'll see ya'll later." Roxas stated as Marluxia walked up and took out his house key

"Yeah."

Opening the front door, Marluxia disappeared from their sights as he went inside. Roxas turned around and ran inside, shouting a quick, "Bye!"

---------

A bit later, they heard the door open and slam close. Stomping footsteps were heard as Sora came in the room looking furious.

"I can't believe you guys left me!" he yelled

"Well it seemed that you were comfortable in walking with Riku." Marluxia said, not looking up from his homework

"But still! You all could've waited for us!"

"Yeah, but you two need to bond, so…"

"Gr…That's it!" Sora dropped his backpack and took a stance, "I challenge you to a match! Outside, now!"

The eldest and youngest of the three just looked at their middle sibling like he had just said something idiotic. Oh wait…he did……

"Uh…" Roxas was thinking of the right words to say. But Marluxia beat him to it

"Sora, stop shouting because the words that came out of your mouth sounded plain retarded." The eldest replied, still not looking up from his work, "What you are suggesting is just stupid."

"Quit being a pansy and fight me so I can kick your ass!"

He sighed, "Sora, you're overreacting about us le-…Did you just call me a pansy?" he asked, head jerking up to look at his younger brother

"And what if I did?"

He stared for a bit before rolling his eyes and shaking his head, "Alright, Sora, I'll fight…"

"Yosh!"

"But let me finish my assignments."

"Aw!"

Later…

Ding dong!

Roxas opened the door and his face lit up.

"You're here!" he exclaimed at all the people standing at his front door. He noted that the British exchange student was there

"Yeah, anyway, Luxord wanted to tag along. Do you mind?" Axel asked

"No, not at all! Come in!" The group of six entered the house

"So, where's our former Pinky?" Cloud asked

"Ah, Sora got mad about us ditching him and challenged Marluxia to a fight."

"Oh, damn! I gotta see this again!" Cloud exclaimed, starting to run to the backyard where the two were. The others followed after him. They went out on the patio and saw the two in their match. But there was one other thing that made them gape—the two of them were fighting blindfolded.

"Mari, you freaking sissy! Get back here so I can hit you!" the brunette shouted, swinging his arm in for a punch

"Sora, I still say you're overreacting about all this." The artistic teen said, dodging his punch

Sora charged at Marluxia. The latter grabbed his wrist and twisted it behind Sora's back. Then, little Marly spun and threw him. The middle child tumbled a bit before getting back on his feet.

"Sora, we have guests; can we stop?" They were left to wonder: how did he know that?

"Ah, they can wait for about five more minutes."

The two kept on fighting, both evenly matched. It was when Marluxia gave a roundhouse kick to Sora's waist that he gained the upper hand. The younger brunette staggered, trying to regain some footing but once he did, he was slammed to the ground. Sora struggled to get out of the grip he was put into, but failed in his attempts.

"Give up yet?"

"Ugh…Okay, okay, I give up…" The eldest Hayashi boy got of his younger brother and helped him up. They both took their blindfolds off and saw that the group was in the patio, awed.

"You guys got here early…" Marluxia said

"Um…Marluxia?"

"What is it Roxas?"

"It's already 4:00."

He looked at his watch and found that Roxas was right, "…We've been fighting for half an hour…Damn…"

"So, now that we're all here," Cloud started, "it's time to have some fun!"

TBC

Okay…That took a while…Sorry if it's crappy…Augh, I disappoint myself!!!!