(Okay, you guys might be wondering why I never updated this for so long. Well, only because I had a bit of trouble with this next fairy tale. Don't expect frequent updates due to College apps., scholarships to try go for, school, and trying to finish off the last half of Enchanted Seduction. Although it will be months before I update that. Right now, I'm working on updating old stories such as Bible Story Hour, A Christmas Carol, Bloodline Chronicles, and the other stories that have not updated in about a year. Any questions, leave it in your review -smiles-. Other than that, enjoy this next tale.)

Warning: May contain a few scenes not meant for PG-13 ratings. But then again, all movies that are PG-13 have content that don't suit for pre-teens (No offense to those that are pre-teens…really)

The Tortoise and the Hare
Hare: Marik
Turtle: Yami
The Ice Cream Man: Shadi
The Girlfriend: Tea
The Officiator: Mokuba

"Guys," Ryou looked at the alarm clock on Yugi's drawer. "It's almost two o'clock. How could you possibly still be up?"

"The kinds of stories Yami tells us," Yugi groaned, crossing his arms over his chest, glaring at the pharaoh. "Is like having the Dark Magician's wand shoved up your…"

"As I was saying," Yami cut off his aibou. "I'm going to read you something appropriate for five years old."

"We're not five year olds!" Malik and Yugi retorted, giving Yami the look of death.

Turning the pages, Yami adjusted his reading glasses. "Well the way you two are acting seems like it."

It was another day at Domino City. People went about their daily routine. Some people dueled with their duel disks. Others shopped, but many just strolled about the streets.

At the same time, the game show opened as Yugi unlocked the door to his grandfather's game shop. His millennium puzzle hung around his neck possessively. Rubbing his eyes sleepily, his eyes tried to adjust themselves to the morning sun.

"Yugi-kun!" Joey yanked the door open, dragging his best friend out. "It's about time you opened up! We've been standing here for about twenty minutes."

"Joey?" Yugi stared at him wide-eyed. He then noticed his other two friends. "Tristan? Duke?"

"Nah, forget it." Tristan marched inside the shop. "Got anything to eat?

"Tristan!" Yugi raced inside. "You gotta stop coming over and expect me to have something for you to eat."

Meanwhile, Solomon, dressed in his usual attire. "Ah Yugi," he smiled. "Good boy. You opened the store just on time." He looked up at Tristan, Joey and Duke. "And looky here, some customers."

"Yo gramps," Tristan leapt towards the counter, grinning at Yugi's grandfather. "Got anything to eat?"

Solomon stared at him, dumbfounded. "Who do I look like? Emril?" he stomped off to the stairs, grumbling something that could not be made out.

"Hey you guys." A female voice chirped up as she entered the shop.

All the guys looked up, seeing Tea in her usual pink uniform.

"Tea?" Yugi arched an eyebrow.

"Morning Tea." Joey waved happily, sitting atop one of the counters. Soon enough, Yugi's grandpa came with a tray with five bowls of noodles. "Tell your friends if they want to spend some time here, let them keep in mind that I'm not running a restaurant!" Taking a broom from the counter, he marched outside.
"So what should we do today now that Battle City is over?" Duke clamped down his noodles.

"That was two months ago!" Tea gave Duke a weird look. All of a sudden, her cell phone rang. Picking inside her pocket, she fished out her cell phone. "Hello?" And from that, her face flushed, turning away from her friends. "Oh hey."

"Huh?" All the guys looked at her strangely.

"Baka!" she smiled, her face flushing even more. "I told you not to be calling me when…well you know…you know how much he wouldn't like…yeah…game shop, why? You can't come!! Ig Yugi's alter-ego finds out…all right fine." Turning off her phone, she released a sigh of relief. Turning around, she saw the crazed look on her friends' faces.

"What?" she read the look on the face. "Why are you guys staring at me like that?"

"Who was on the phone?" Tristan and Duke looked down on her.

This caused Tea to blush even further. Stammering, she shouted at them. "H-hey! That is none of your business!"

"Tea's getting a booty call!" Duke hooted.

"What does that supposed to mean?" she took a step back.

"What's this about Yami trying to find out?" Yugi arched an eyebrow.

"It's…it's nothing!" she spat out, feeling her cheeks flush deep red.

"No?" Joey poked at her cheeks with his chopsticks. "Every time you're denying it, your face turns more red."

At that instant, Tea slapped away Joey's chopsticks off of his hand. "Don't be stupid! It's not like I joined the escort services!"

"Sure." Joey, Duke and Tristan replied sarcastically.

"I'm serious!" Tea's face turned as red as a cherry. "Whoever it was on the phone is none of your…"

All of a sudden, the door opened and what could have been an ordinary customer placed a shock on everyone's face.

"No way!" Duke nearly jumped onto Tristan. "It can't be!"

Joey was as freaked as Duke. "What are you doing here? You can't be here! You're dead!! How can you be here?!?"

Bringing his cape back, Marik smirked at the rest. In his hand was the millennium rod. "I never thought I would find myself in this place, least of all surrounded by you twits."

"Marik," Joey cracked his knuckles, glaring up at the evil one. "So help me God you better get out or I'll be busting your balls so hard, Ra and Obelisk wouldn't help you!"

"I think he's serious." Duke muttered.

"Pharaoh," Marik pointed his rod towards Yugi. "Even if it's a short while, I demand a rematch."

"Phhh!" Yugi cocked his head to the side. "If Yami defeated you once, he can sure defeat you again!"
Ignoring Yugi's ranting, Marik spotted Tea. Lifting her hand to her lips, like a gentlemen, he kissed it softly. "Tea, nice of you to invite me here."

"You were talking to Marik earlier?!?" Tristan was taken by this. "Tea how could you?"

All of a sudden, the millennium puzzle around Yugi's neck began to glow. Soon enough, Yugi was no longer himself as he was replaced by the spirit of the pharaoh. "Marik," he hissed, placing on his duel disk. "I accept your challenge. Where should we settle this?"

Looking up at Yami, Marik began laughing. "You clod, I didn't ask for a duel."

"Say what?" Yami was rather surprised. "If you don't want to duel, then what exactly do you want to challenge me to?"

Chuckling softly, he simply stood there. "You and me race all over Domino City."

"Whoa, I smell a bet!" Joey reached inside his jacket, taking out a slightly torn notebook.

"Hey wait a minute!" Yami looked up at Joey.

"I see you have taken a common interest in the young one." He flicked Tea's chin, causing her to flush deeply. He then glanced at Joey. "Take this down."

Joey nodded, taking out a pencil, opening his notebook ready to scribble down."

"You and me, pharaoh." Marik grinned. "We race from here to Domino Port and back. A good forty minute drive I must say. Saturday at 10."

"What's the point in all this?" Yami arched an eyebrow.

"Whoever wins gets a date with little Tea here." Ruffling his fingers through her hair, he flirted with Tea endlessly, causing her to giggle like a small schoolgirl.

Who knew Marik could be so loving? Duke looked on at the two.

"All right Marik." Yami glared at the dark tomb keeper, unable to stand him flirting with Tea. Secretly, however, the great pharaoh had a thing for the girl who would constantly cheer for her friends at every duel they go to. "I accept your challenge. If I can beat you at any duel, I sure as hell can beat you at this!"

"Pffh." Marik released his hold on Tea. "Don't be so sure about that. This is not Battle City and I'm not here to try and claim your power. At least for now." Marik then headed for the door. "So I guess it's settled. This Saturday at 10." Opening the door, he left the game shop. The sound of the motorcycle roared before taking off.

All was silent for the moment before Duke whipped out a twenty dollar bill, handing it to Joey. "Twenty on Marik, Joey."

"Say what?!?" Yami gave Duke a bewildered look.

Looking up at Yami, Duke shoved his hands in his pockets. "Only because it's a motorbike race and you have never rode on a motorcycle before. Can't you take a hint?"

"Hey, no sweat!" Tristan made his way towards Yami, wrapping his arm around over his shoulder. "He can borrow my bike and I'll train him."

"Whatever you say." Duke rolled his eyes.

"This should be interesting." Joey pocketed the money Duke had given him. "I'm going to town and ask Kaiba if he would be interested in taking part at this. I just hope he'll close off Domino like he did in Battle City."

"I'm coming with you." Duke grinned as the two headed out.

"Joey wait!" Tea called out. But it was too late.

Laughing softly, Tristan patted Yami on the back. "Don't worry about it Yami. Come over to my house at 5:30. I'll help you from there. Later." he then left, leaving Tea all alone in the shop.

All was silent for now before Tea pounded her fist onto the counter, glaring up at Yami. "What the hell is wrong with you? You accept Marik's challenge and you never rode a motorcycle before! What's the matter? Afraid your pride will be tarnished just because you would say no to Marik's challenge?"

Before Yami could answer, the sounds of the ice cream truck rolled in. "You know what? Let me buy you some ice cream."

"You think that's supposed to solve anything?" Tea's voice became seething but followed Yami outside. The truck was parked right outside as Shadi handed Solomon an ice cream sandwich. Spotting Tea, he waved at her, smiling.

Scooping up some ice cream, he handed the cones to both of them. Noting Tea's strange behavior, Shadi became concerned. "M'dear, what's wrong with you?"

"Ask the pharaoh!" Tea snapped. "He's the one who started all this!"

"Started what?"

"Oh come on," Yugi gave her a pleading look, trying to come up with a good excuse to defend himself. "It's the code of honor Tea. Not just for myself but my title as pharaoh. If I do not take up this challenge, history will be rewritten. I will be known as the pharaoh who cowardly stepped down to a tomb keeper." Turning around with the ice cream in his mouth, he went back inside.

A bit amused, Shadi watched on, muttering. "Some pharaoh." He then turned his attention towards Tea. "Now really, what's wrong?"

Sighing irritably, Tea licked off the whipped cream topping off her strawberry ice cream, leaning against the truck before looking up at Shadi. "Yami and Marik are going to race on each other all over Domino City and Joey just happened to turn this into a bet to see who would win."

"Really?" Shadi's lips curled into a smile. "And what does the winner get?"

"Let's not go there."

5:30: Tristan's House:

"Hey, hey Yami, you finally show." Tristan smiled as he met up with the pharaoh in his garage.

"Er…yeah." Yami looked around. The streetlights were on yet the sky was turning pink. "So…"

"So, let's get you started." Tristan patted him on the shoulder. Going inside his garage, he wheeled out a red, old Yamaha brand of a motorcycle. "I won't get you started with the Kawasaki just yet Yami. First of all, you need to get used to riding a motor bike. Don't worry," he patted on one of the handle bars. "It's still in good shape so you don't have to worry."

Looking over the motorbike, Yami climbed upon the seat, twisting the handle bars.

"Okay Yam-kun," Tristan handed Yami the key. "Just keep your feet on the ground to stop yourself. If you're driving, don't try to drag your feet to stop yourself but do a little slide which I'll teach you later. Right now, let's start it up."

"I'm sure I could handle this part." said Yami as he started up the motorbike. Pressing onto the handle gently, he then sped off. Tristan was slightly stunned at Yami's sudden rush. Before he could call him, a crash sounded off.

Yami had crashed into the fence two houses down from Tristan's. Although the motorcycle remained in good shape, Yami laid there sprawled on the ground, groaning. Opening his eyes, he looked up, seeing Tristan.

"Here," Tristan handed Yami a motorcycle helmet. "You kinda forgot this." Helping Yami up, he shook his head, laughing softly. "Looks like we need to do some serious training if you want to kick Marik this Saturday. Come on."

Saturday rolled on rather quickly. Many people crowded onto the sidewalks, anticipating for the event that was about to happen. Tristan, Joey, Duke and Solomon sat on the roof of the game shop, watching on.

"Let me guess," Solomon looked up at Joey. "You got Kaiba's support?"

"Of course." Joey smiled to himself, jotting a few things down in his notebook. "Sure he hates me, but if it has something to do with seeing Yami's downfall, he'll be glad to partake it."

"Joey," Duke frowned. "Shame on you, going against your own best friend. But in this case…"

"Who else is on the list?" Tristan looked over Joey's notebook.

"Well," Joey scratched his head. "Ishizu's down for 30 for Yami. Ryou and his dark side kept arguing on who was going to win and how much money they should bet on so I just put them down for twenty on Marik. Rishid obviously went for Marik…"

"How much did he bet?" Duke looked up at Joey.

"Fifty." Joey grinned.

Solomon released a laugh. "Hah, Rishid's nuts. If Yami wins this race, he's going to have to give back my Dark Necrophear. We already betted through the phone last night."

"Smart thinking gramps." Tristan hooted.

"Okay, where was I?" Joey's eyes scanned the list. "Pegasus is down for $100 on Yami. Bandit Keith is going for a twenty on Marik. Both Weevil and Rex is $20 each on Marik, Dartz and his gang put up $50 for Marik. Mai wagered at least fifteen on Yami. Hmm…Noah sent in ten dollars in favor of Yami. And…let's see…Serenity wagered five bucks for Yami. Isn't that cute?"

"Is she still available?" Duke and Tristan gave Joey a crazed look.

But before Joey could answer, Marik had arrived on his motorcycle. Taking off of his helmet, he looked up at the morning sky. A bunch of fan girls began cheering and drooling over the dark tomb keeper. Marik, however, could not help but grin at this.

"By the way," Joey looked at Tristan. "How is Yami on the motorcycle. Is he ready for the Kawasaki?"

"It's was hard but I think he's finally got it the last three days." Tristan had his thumbs up. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

"Don't be so sure." Solomon's gaze directed towards the view below him, resting his head on his hand. "You guys and I know that Marik is known to play dirty so this is going to be not your ordinary race indeed."

"Don't worry gramps." Tristan smiled. "I'm sure Yami could handle it. I've taught him most of the tricks I know in handling these sort of situations."

All of a sudden, another motorcycle roared in from the opposite side of the road. Stopping at least three feet away from Marik, the driver turned off his engine, stepping out of the motorcycle. Taking out his helmet, Yami shook away his blonde locks, glaring at Marik.

"Well," Marik smirked, looking down at Yami. "So I see you managed to learn a few things about handling a motorcycle. Don't worry though, I'll take it easy on you out there."

Yami shot Marik a dirty look. Before he could say anything, Mokuba emerged from the crowd, wearing a t-shirt that labeled "Official" on the front in big, black letters. "All right you guys, it's about 10 now. Let's get you guys to go to the starting line."

Giving each other dirty, intimidating looks, the two then broke gaze from one another before steering their bikes behind the starting line, which was also known as the finishing line.

"Hear my whistle, you go!" Mokuba announced. "The rule is simply go all the way through Domino City and come back. No excuses. Start up your engines gentlemen!"

Yami and Marik started up their engines. Placing on their helmets, adjusting it, they waited for Mokuba's signal for them to go.

Mokuba raised his hand in the air, as if to indicate to get ready. Watching the two, he placed the whistle in his mouth, preparing himself. Soon enough, he then blew his whistle as hard as he could, bringing his hand down. At that moment, Marik and Yami sped off with the crowds cheering along the way excitedly.

The two sped down the steep hill. Marik was a bit ahead of Yami as he tried to catch up with him. Remembering on how to balance himself to prevent from falling off, he adjusted his body slightly.

In the meantime, Marik whipped out a walkie talkie, whispering into it. "Umbra, Lumis, you know what to do."

"Right boss." they replied.

They made a sharp right turn past the alley. With Marik already ahead of him, he did not seem to worry.

Twisting the handle bar, Yami worked on speeding up. As he passed the alley, Umbra and Lumis emerged from the alley, on their motorcycles, going straight after the pharaoh.

Looking back, Yami's eyes widened. "That bastard," he muttered. "So…that's how it is, huh Marik?" Reaching inside his pocket he took out a rock that he had kept for a long time. Actually, the rock his aibou kept for such a time."

Forgive me Yugi, Yami said in his mind. Clenching the stone in his hand, he hurled it towards Umbra, knocking him out cold. Before Lumis stepped on his brakes, he slammed into Umbra, both knocked down on the road.

Smiling to himself as he had finished his troubles, he then sped up in hopes of catching up with Marik.

Meanwhile, Marik was sitting atop one of Domino's Ports, having to reach there a lot faster. Smirking to himself, any motorist who gets distracted was bound to slow down and have gone through a disadvantage.

"Poor pharaoh," Marik crossed his hands over his chest, shaking his head slightly. "It's too bad Umbra and Lumis had to do the damage on him."

"So you like to play dirty huh?" Yami hollered.

Eyes widening, Marik spotted Yami racing towards the port. "Holy crap, he actually outsmarted the gurus. Well," he grinned. "Two can play that game." Starting up his engine, he then sped off, heading off down the road as Yami slowly caught up with him. Riding down the winding road, Marik and Yami continued speeding, nearing the road that would take them to the finish line.

Looking back at Yami, Marik reached inside his pocket. "You don't know when to quit, do you?" He then took out his millennium rod, letting it glow. "I guess you gotta learn some manners, pharaoh."

All of a sudden, as they turned to the road that led back to the game shop, Marik's rod caused Yami's motorbike to go out of control. Unable to keep control of it, the motorbike fell to its side. Unfortunately, as it began slamming to the ground, sliding, Yami slammed head first onto Marik's side, toppling him over as well.

Luckily for him, however, Yami was still wearing his helmet as he had experienced a slight headache. Both bodies sprawled on the road as an astonished crowd looked on.

Suddenly, the melody of the ice cream truck rang throughout the street. Shadi slowly steered his wheel to the left, looking about curiously at the many people crowded on the sidewalks. It was strange for him since around this time, not many people crowded about the streets. Slowly driving on, looking left to right curiously, he wondered if they were here for the ice cream. Finally, he stopped, turning off the engine, poking his head outside at the crowds, who gazed at him with an astonished look.

"What?" Shadi arched an eyebrow. "You guys came here for ice cream."

All of a sudden, a huge cheer erupted in the streets. Shadi thought the whole town had gone strange indeed as he shook his head, muttering to himself. "Domino City…full of weirdos indeed."

"Congratulations Shadi!" Mokuba hollered, rushing inside the ice cream truck. "You won!!"

"Say what?" Shadi arched an eyebrow.

"Don't be silly Shadi!" Mokuba smiled. "Your truck crossed the finish line. You won the race."

"Er…okay." Shadi sat back on his chair.

Meanwhile, Tea made her way towards the carnage where Marik and Yami laid, a scowled look on her face. "Well, I hope you two are happy! Racing each other just to see who's the big bad boy." Taking out a mallet, she slammed it on both of their heads before walking off.

"Tea…" Yami looked on at the one he had a crush on.

"Forget it pharaoh," Marik watched Tea as she stomped off.

Stopping halfway between the ice cream truck and the carnage, she whipped out her cell phone and dialed Joey's number.

Hearing his cell phone ring, Joey went to answer it. "Hello?"

"Well Jou-kun," Tea glared up at him from below. "Are you happy now?"

"Look at it this way Tea," Joey grinned. "You don't have to date any of those bozos and I'm about over a hundred dollars richer." he held out the jar that was filled with money, shaking it gently.

"Not if I can help it!" Taking out a pack of duel monster cards, she took out one, hurling it towards Joey. The edge of the card pressed rather sharply on Joey's hand. Screaming in pain, his fingers slipped from the jar, dropping it over the edge.

"Oh no!" Joey's eyes widened.

Catching the jar in her hands, she looked inside the jar. "Ah yes, this should help me with tonight. By the way Joey, do you really want to know who I have been talking to the day you set up that bet?"

"Oh come on Tea," Joey frowned. "We all know you were talking to Marik that day."

A small laugh seeped through the receiver. "Do you really think so?" The next minute, the most astonishing happened. Tea got inside Shadi's truck, wrapping one arm over his shoulder, kissing him on the cheek.

"I told you the pharaoh wouldn't have any problems if I came by." Shadi smiled, patting Tea on the head.

"What the?!?" Joey's voice seeped through Tea's phone. "This was what was going on the whole time?!? Tea, why you…"

"Ah screw you Joey." Tea smiled, turning off her phone. Shadi started up the engine to his truck as they drove off, the sounds of the ice cream truck remained silent.

Closing the book, Yami forced a smile. "Now children," he looked at Ryou, Malik and Yugi. "What was the lesson in this story?"

"Betting is a good thing?" Malik answered.

"No better looking guy can get the girl?" replied Yami.

"You'll know when you'll get ambushed in a race?" Ryou arched an eyebrow.

"NO!!!" Yami slammed the book onto the floor. "It's slow and steady wins the race!! Jeez Ryou, Bakura should have taught you that when you placed the frickin millennium necklace around your neck!"

"What you read really was boring." Ryou frowned. "Almost reminds me of the movie Fast and Furious. Ra, I hate that movie."

"Pansy." Yami muttered under his breath.

"That story has a first name," Yugi started to sing to the tune of the Oscar Meyer wiener song. "It's b-o-r-a-n-g."

"That story has a second name," Malik joined in. "It's p-h-a-r-a-o."

Glaring at the two, Yami clenched his fist. "And you two can't even spell for Ra sakes!" he pointed a shaking finger at the two hikaris. "That's it! I don't care if you guys are even tired but I've had enough of this. You're going to sleep whether you like that or not."

"Hey Ryou and Malik," Yugi smiled, though smirking at his dark side. "Let me tell you a story of when Dartz suddenly ruled this town and when he captured my soul. When Yami was challenging Weevil, Weevil starts telling him that he's got this card that could have saved me. So he tells Yami to come and get the card and soon enough, Weevil just rips that card apart and Yami was stunned as hell."

This sent Malik and Ryou laughing into hysteria. However, this story also sent Yami into the point of insanity as he cracked his knuckles. For a reason he did not want to know, they were really pushing him to the limit. He then turned and glared at Yugi. "Hey you! How about giving thanks to your dark side that I actually saved you from Dartz's lair! You have no idea how much trouble I had to go through!"

Ignoring Yami, Yugi picked up the millennium puzzle, placing his fingers on the piece that had the Egyptian symbol in the middle. "Hey Malik-kun, suppose if I take off a piece of the millennium puzzle. Would Yami actually disappear?"

Eyes widening, that was a threat to Yami's existence. Any piece that comes off the puzzle was bound to get him to disappear. Downing some of his coffee, he sat back on the chair, picked up the book and adjusted his reading glasses. "All right, no more Aesop. I'll read you another one."

To Be Continued.