I have 2 questions to ask: 1) Should I start out my Marche as Ninja or..

I like Marche as a fighter because he is stronger and harder to kill. In the beginning, there are no good weapons for Ninjas, and Ninjas have low HP. If you already have a good weapon (maybe the one that teaches Double Sword) then go Ninja all the way.

The answers to your questions are;

1)I would suggest Fighter to raise Marche's weapon attack. Change him to a Ninja when you get a Nosada to let him learn him Double Sword, then change him back to a Fighter after he has mastered it.

2)It is possible to get Ezel before fighting Li-Grim. Keep checking his card shop's "Gossip" option.

I think it's better to make Marche a Ninja first to learn the status attacks like Metal Veil and then Double Sword. Once you have done that get some blue magic
(1Black Mage ability and 1 White Mage ability). Finally change him to fighter and put his attack, defense and HP up. Keep double sword as your support ability and have blue magic as your second action ability set.

To get Ezel before the Li-Grim, keep gossiping and take all the missions he says. You will get him after doing a fight mission with him.

What I did was I just went around and doing missions and one time I just stopped by Ezels shop and a little cut scene came on I didnt talk to him at all.

1) Fighter, they have awesome skills you're going to need at the beggining of the game. Ninjas are only really cool later on in the game when you can teach them Double Sword etc.
2) If you keep gossiping with Ezel, eventually you'll do some mission with him and get him after you complete them. He's an ok character, I only really use him because he has an ability that puts all enemies to sleep.