Well, hasn't it been a while since I started this story. (Almost a year!) I would like to apologise. When I started this I had about four stories on the go at once and wanted to finish two of them, as they were near the end anyway, before I started this properly. They are now finished, the other two have too many chapters for you all to wait for that. So three months ago I sat down to start writing when I find that my mum has sold our DVD copy of Rat Race, thinking I didn't like it. I was so annoyed. I have looked everywhere for a good copy, unfortunately I can't use the internet sites as my broadband is too slow and would take forever to do it that way. I had given up hope after going to every shop in town looking for it. Though I turn on the tv, and look what's on! I now have a good copy, with adverts which will easily break up chapters!
GwuncanLover doesn't own Rat Race, it is owned by Paramount Pictures. I earn no profit from this story.
And now without further delay, I give you... Rat Race!
The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas was full of people on this sunny morning. One man was currently checking out, he was about 25 and had star shaped black hair though the tips were a bright crimson, his fringe was blonde and jagged and also shot up thrice into the rest of his hair, his eyes were the same crimson as his hair. Clothes-wise he was wearing a white shirt, black slacks, black blazer and black dress shoes. He smiled at the woman behind the desk as he gave her his room key.
"Hi, I'm checking out, room 14..3...22." He said, trying to remember his room number.
"Yami Sennen?" She asked typing.
"That's me."
"Here's you're bill." She slid it across the desk to him, he took it and started to read it over.
"So how was your luck last night?" she asked.
"Oh, I didn't gamble. I was at a friends bachelor party. I guess he's the gambler." He said smirking, the woman look unimpressed.
A tanned man, in his mid thirties with long black hair, pulled into a pony tail on one side wearing black leather pants, black vest and red sleeveless jacket, glared at his drink before picking it up and downing the rest. He rubbed his face with the other hand and sighed, his emerald eyes showing regret.
"Miss!" he said, trying to get the barmaids attention, she had short brown hair. "Excuse me miss can I get another one of these." the woman turned around and them man looked shocked. "Oh, sorry." He laughed a little. "I thought you were a woman."
"I am a woman." she stated, offended. His smile faded. "You know, you look familiar."
"Yeah, you do." the man next to him agreed.
"I get that all the time, I guess I just have one of those faces." They fell silent as the TV launched into a news report. "And now for our loser of the week. Referee Duke Devlin made the biggest bonehead call in the history of Football." The man at the bars face fell as his picture was shown on screen with the word loser written across it. "I think everyone remembers, it happened last sunday at Dallas. They were headed into overtime with the score tied at ten, everything was cool and they were about to toss for the kick off." A video then played of Duke standing in front of many American football players.
"Call it in the air." He told the Cowboys as he flipped the coin. They shouted tails, which it landed on. "That's heads." He stated picking up the coin. Everyone started to protest, he argued before angrily blowing his whistle at them and throwing his hat.
The bar maid and the man turned to look at Duke, who had fled the bar.
Two men came up the stairs, one had brown hair gelled into a spike and brown eyes, whilst the other had floppy blond hair and lighter brown eyes, they both appeared to be in their early twenties, though the blond looked older. The brunette was wearing a brown jacket, white t-shirt and black jeans, the blond wore a blue shirt, green jacket and blue jeans. "Ok little brother just be cool." the blonde stated. At the top they looked around before the blond placed a shot glass on the floor and turned to the other. "See that glass?" he nodded. "Walk across the lobby, slip on the glass, let gravity do the rest."
"Joey, I may break my neck." he replied, though it came out slurred, as though he had a really big tongue, or something in his mouth.
"It's true, you could break your neck Tristan. Though, it's a risk I'm willing to take."
"Then why don't you do it? Huh?" he asked.
"Because Einstein. One of us needs to be the victim," he stated pointing at the other. "and one of us needs to be the witness." he stated pointing at himself. "What kind of witness would you make? I'm your own brother and I don't know what the hell you're saying. How's your tongue? Let me see it." He stuck out his tongue showing it was pierced but was black and infected.
"How does it look?"
"Good. It looks much better." he answered, uneasy. "Right, here we go. We're on candid camera so make it look good." The brunette went to slip when an old woman walked past them and slipped on the glass instead, causing her to fall down the stairs the brothers just walked up. When she finally reached the bottom a man with long black hair with purple steaks in a red blazer ran up to her. "Excuse me, I'm a lawyer. Koneko Raian. What happened here?"
"She slipped on that glass." a woman said.
"Those arrogant jerks! They're going to pay for this, pay through the nose. How's your neck? I've never seen such negligence, this is going to be huge." At the top of the stairs, the brothers looked on, open mouthed. The blond gestured to the scene before huffing and walked away, the younger trailing behind.
A tanned woman with long black hair in her late twenties wearing a white dress that reached the floor and had long sleeves, but hugged her curves was looking at a worn picture of a small, also tanned, boy with blonde hair and wide purple eyes. Two barmaids who were standing behind her gushed at the sight.
"He's an angel." one stated.
"Oh, look at those cute little cheeks!" the other said. "He has your smile."
"It's the only picture I have of him. It's worn out because I'm always looking at it." the woman stated, laughing a little.
"And you haven't seen him for 19 years?" the first asked.
"Not til today!"
"And he just called you out of the blue?"
"No I found him. I hired a detective, spent all my money. And now we're going to meet! You think he'll recognise me?"
"Of course he will." Though she wasn't listening. At that moment a tall tanned man of about 23 just walked into the small bar area, he had shoulder length, cropped, blond hair and was wearing a black suit, with purple shirt. She stood up as the other walked towards her.
"Ishizu?" he asked, causing her blue eyes to tear up.
"Malik!" she went to hug him, but his phone rang and he held up a hand. He pulled the phone out.
"This is Malik... No that's unacceptable! If we don't ship by Tuesday, then we won't be in stores by Mother's Day!... Don't give me any excuses! Just shut up and do it! GET IT DONE YOU MORON!" He shouted before hanging up and squeezing the phone, which broke.
"Oh, you broke your phone." Ishizu said, uneasy.
"It's OK, I carry extras." he stated, still semi-annoyed.
"Why don't we sit down?" He agreed and they did. "You probably have a thousand questions for me."
"No, not really."
"Mum and dad divorced and mum took me, and dad stayed with you and Odion. I wanted to stay in touch but mum wouldn't let me." The two barmaids started crying at the scene.
"You think you girls could pull yourselves together and get us a drink?"
"Yeah, sure. What would you like?"
"Mimosa." They both answered at the same time.
"They both want a mimosa." the second one said, crying again before she was pulled away.
"So you sell cosmetics?"
"Yes I have my own company. We're going public." Malik stated, getting aggravated slightly.
"And you're not married?" he shook his head "Isis said you wouldn't."
"Who?"
"Isis. She's my psychic, she's the one who told me to come looking for you and that you needed me."
"She did?"
"She said you were lonely, worried about money and had trouble sleeping." Malik stared at his older sister, mouth slightly open.
"Who the hell isn't?" he asked, after nervously taking a sip of his drink.
A family of four laden with suitcases burst into a hotel room.
"Didn't I say we didn't need a bellman?" The father, a very tall muscular man with blond hair that stuck up in all directions, much like a hedgehog, and purple eyes that screamed psycho and appeared to be in his late thirties, said.
"Well done Mariku." his wife, a slender woman with brown bobbed hair and blue eyes that currently screamed annoyance who was younger but also in her late thirties. "You avoided another tip, thank you." she said sarcasticly.
"Well all those nickels and dimes add up." A small blonde girl of about eight with wide blue eyes ran up and jumped onto one of the beds.
"I call this bed!" she shouted.
"No fair!" a tanned boy of about twelve with black hair and purple eyes yelled. "You picked last night!"
"Go to hell Mokuba!" she stated, now jumping on the bed.
"Make me!"
"Rebecca, language!" Warned their mother.
"Oh look Tea, his and hers bathrobes." Mariku stated, pretending to be interested. "And look at that view." She agreed with him. "Well, why don't you unpack, while I got look around?"
"You're not going to the casino." She stated, facing him, arms folded.
"No, no of course not! I just drove from the Grand Canyon. Gotta stretch my legs."
"You promised we were here to see David Copperfield, no gambling!"
"No gambling. I'm just looking around." She relented and went to unpack. "In fact." He pulled out a wad of cash and smirked. "I might go to the gift shop."
"I can jump farther than you!" Mokuba stated.
"Bet you can't" Rebecca replied.
"I'm going now, see you later." Mariku stated, heading for the door. Both children jumped at the same time, and slammed into each other in the air. Mariku tried not to laugh. "That's gotta hurt." He grabbed the door handle. "Honey, kids the need you!" he stated before bolting out of the door.
Yami was walking through the lobby when he heard someone shouting his name behind him. He turned to see a tanned man with white hair the same age as Yami and was wearing an open red shirt and black slacks running towards him.
"You're not leaving are you?"
"I'm in court on Tuesday." Yami replied, still walking.
"No you're not."
"Well, I work for people who are in court on Tuesday."
"You pussy! You can't leave now it's still going on up there."
"Akefia, I have to. I've had two hours sleep."
"Steve just got another stripper Yami! I'm telling you she's incredible, you have to see her!"
"No I can't I have to get back."
"No you don't! I know you, you're scared it's gonna get out of control. And that someday you'll be up for Attorney General and this'll come back to haunt you."
"I'm not having this conversation."
"You didn't even gamble. That's no way to live. Live a little man. Break one rule! Steal something." He turned around and saw a stack of newspapers. "Look Yami a paper." He thrust one into his hands. "Take it." Yami frowned and put it back on the pile.
"I've got a plane to catch. See you in Chicago." Akefia sighed and the two parted.
Ishizu and Malik were playing the slots when suddenly Ishizu's machine lit up.
"I won!" She stated cheering and clapping. "Ooh look at the money!" Five silver coins and a gold coin fell. "What is this?" She held up the gold coin. "You're a winner. See guest services." The two looked at each other and shrugged.
Mariku walked down a row of slot machines before stopping at one and looking at it.
"A dollar?" he scoffed and went to the other side. He put a quarter and and held his hands together before it flashed as well and he cheered. One coin fell, the same gold one Ishizu had. He looked sceptically at it.
Joey had hold of a charity bucket that said "Help feed the homeless" on it. He was walking past the machines, tipping the bucket getting quarters and putting them in, Tristan was walking behind and pulled the lever.
"We won." Tristan stated, pulling out another gold coin.
"What is that?" Joey asked. "It's not money." he scoffed.
Duke sat at another machine, drink in hand. A man across the aisle from him looked at him. Duke noticed and turned away. His machine flashed and he too won a gold coin. He stared at it and flipped it over a couple of times.
"That's it? A free buffet?" Malik asked the woman at guest services.
"Actually it's not as buffet. It's a a special reception at ten o'clock in the penthouse conference room. Where a..." the woman riffles through her desk before finding a sheet of paper. "a spectacular once in a lifetime opportunity awaits you. And that's all I know."
"What do you think?" Ishizu asks.
"I think it might be a scam." Malik replied.
"Oh good a scam. We'll do it."
"Do you even kn-"
"Great I'll just need to see some ID." the woman replied, stopping Malik from asking her.
Yami walked past some slot machines on his way out. He though about what Akefia said and sighed. He put a quarter into one of them and smirked.
"There. I gambled." he turned and was about to leave when two coins fell, one quarter, one gold coin.
The penthouse conference room was lovely. The floors were made entirely of marble, as were the columns holding the ceiling up, the walls depicted Venice and in the middle was a large mahogany table and chairs. There was also a huge buffet and a bar in the corner. Duke leant on one arm, beer in hand as he talked to Joey.
"Family vacation? Well these are the moments you gotta savour, am I right? They'll never come around again." Joey grabbed a glass of wine.
"Exactly." Malik and Ishizu walked into the room. Marik walked up to Joey.
"Excuse me do you know what's going on?"
"Yeah, free grub, that's what's going on." Joey replied holding up a plateful of food.
"This room is fabulous!" Ishizu stated joining her younger brother.
"Does anyone know what we're doing here?" he asked.
"Beats me." Mariku stated. Tristan was holding up a metal bowl and looking at his infected tongue. "Oh my god. You should sue somebody!"
"I did it myself." Tristan slurred.
"What?"
"He said he did it himself. He sent away for a kit." Joey answered. Ishizu sat next to Duke at the bar.
"I knew I recognised you. You're that referee! The bonehead!"
"Well, that's just the media blowing it out of proportion."
"Well, my hairdressers husband lost $800 because of you." she stated before getting up again.
"You know everyone thinks we flip quarters." he stated. Ishizu ignored him and pulled out a camera.
"Can I get a picture?"
"It's actually a commemorative coin." He said holding it up.
"Smile." They posed for the picture before looking at her and seeing she wasn't listening and stopped. There was then a knock at the door, before a man in his early forties stumbled in, he was wearing a red suit with a white ruffled shirt.
"Am I too late?" He asked in a camp voice, his long silver hair being thrown over his shoulder as he regained composure, though it still covered one of his brown eyes. "Look I won a coin!" He held up the same coin everyone else had. "A gold coin! Isn't this wonderful? Look at this room! What a wonderful room. Have you seen this room?" He rambled whilst walked towards the group.
"Yes, we're in it." Mariku stated incredulously, making Tristan and Joey snicker.
"I am Maximilian Pegasus. And I know what you're thinking Maximilian is a girl's name."
"No I wasn't" Duke stated.
"No pun intended."
"What pun is that?" he asked, confused.
"Oh, would you look at all this food!" He said, ignoring him. "What a beautiful party! Little cock doggies." He stated, picking up a cocktail sausage.
"They're called cocktails wienies." Malik stated.
"Wienies! I'm sorry, I don't get out much and don't pick up slang well, but I'm learning!" He said before eating the sausage.
"That's it Ishizu, we're leaving." Malik said grabbing his sisters arm.
"But we just got here." He pulled her until they were stopped by someone clearing their throat. They turned to see a man in his late twenties with long wild white hair, pain skin and reddish brown eyes standing before them in a dark blue pinstripe suit, light blue shirt and blue tie.
"Thank you all for coming. I'm Bakura Touzoku, I own this hotel. We don't have much time. There's a meteor the size of North Carolina heading towards earth. The impact will kill everything and everyone on this planet. I've built a bunker in the basement of this casino that will withstand the blast. There's room for eight of us, I've chosen the seven of you plus me. When this is all over it will be up to us to repopulate the planet." He finished and looked around at the shocked faces in the room. He then burst out laughing, making everyone confused. "I couldn't resist." He said before laughing again.
"Oh, a joke." Pegasus said. "He made a joke."
"Everyone sit down then." Bakura said, having calmed down. "Malik, you and your sister can sit over here."
"How do you know she's my sister?"
"Alas, there are no secrets any more, Malik. Actually that's not true, there is one more secret. One last secret. It involves all of you." He stated leaning over the chair at the head of the table.
"I'm getting goose pimples!" Pegasus said, talking across the table. The door then opened and in walked Yami.
"Ah, Mr Sennen. Curiosity got the better of you eh? Come and sit down."
"Erm, I'm fine, Thanks." He said, instead choosing to lean on one of the columns in the room.
"You haven't missed anything, we were just cutting to the chase. Cutting to the chase!" he said again before laughing hysterically, while everyone was confused again. "Well you'll laugh later. Now you know the odds of winning downstairs, or hitting the jackpot on the lottery are astronomical. I mean, millions to one, a sensible person doesn't even bother. But today, you have the chance of playing a game where the odds of winning are one in six. That's one throw..." He threw a red dice across the table. "...of the dice." Tristan laughed moronically. A man, who weirdly looked like Yami, although was shorter had amethyst where Yami had crimson and didn't have Yami's three strands of blond in his black spikes, just a forelock instead. He was carrying a stack of blue folders. "Ah, this is my attorney, Yugi Mutou, who was tragically born without a personality. He wishes that anyone wishing to participate in our little experiment, you must sign this waiver absolvong the casino for any responsibility for any damages, personal liability..."
Just behind the mirror in the room was a group men watching them.
"So who do you like Claude?" A German man asked the man next to him.
"The blond man in the suit, he looks desperate." The other German replied.
"But he has his sister with him. That could slow him down, hmm?"
"Perhaps..."
"Now, 563 miles from here is a little town called Silver City, New Mexico."
"Gold Rush." Yami stated.
"Quite right Yami. Yes, they struck gold there in 1860. It was the second largest gold rush in American history."
"Very good Yami! I think Yami should be our captain." Everyone stared at him before Bakura continued.
"Yes well, downtown there's a train station, can't miss it. As you go in the front door there are some lockers on the right. Mr Mutou, do you have the keys?" The young man nodded and opened a box revealing six silver keys with silver fobs. "Six identical keys. They all open the same locker, locker 001. Inside the locker there is a duffel bag, inside the duffel bag is $2 million. In cash 50s and 100s makes a pile about yay big." He stated measuring out a size roughly to that of a small suitcase. "First one there... keeps it all."
"Cool." Tristan said.
"And I've put little tracking devices in your key rings to keep track of you. And, uh, that's it... Go." He leant back and crossed his arms. Everyone stared at him, no one moved.
"You can't just pick people at random." Duke said.
"I can do what I like, Duke, I'm eccentric... Go!"
"So wait, it's like a race?" Mariku asked. Bakura nodded.
"Oh, it's a race. Oh, I hope I win." Pegasus stated.
"What are the rules?" Joey asked.
"There is only one rule. Are you ready? Here it is. There are no rules. Go!" Everyone still stared at him. "GO!" He barked.
"So, now when you say go... you mean just, go?" Malik asked.
"Begin. Commence. Start Moving. Theoretically you have been racing for about forty seconds and so far Mr Sennen is winning because he's closet to the door!" Bakura stated, getting annoyed that no one was moving. He sighed and pulled out a gun before firing it at the ceiling. Everyone screamed and jumped up. Pegasus shouting "It's a race!" as they ran from the room.
Well, there you go. I wrote this non-stop sat in front of my telly constantly pausing and playing to get the dialogue right. All in all it took me about three or four hours, and this is like the first twenty or so minutes of the film. This might actually kill me... Hopefully it won't. Updates? I don't know. There will be some, I just don't know when, I'm redecorating my room and I have a wedding to go to then I have school. I will write when I have time, could be tomorrow, could be next week, just trust me that I'm trying!