Hello once more. Thanks for the reviews so far guys. I'm glad you all like this story so far. Lol, it took me quite a bit of time to write it, but it was fun. At any rate, to the reviews!

Metal Overlord 2.0: Thanks. I tried to stick with Bakura's deck style from the show the best I could, and added a few things here and there. As for topping this match, I'm sure someone could. Don't forget, Yami and Marie are left on Illidan's duel opponents, and neither has lost in single action, yet. And keep up the good work on your story. I know it helps to get a few words of encouragement, not to mention a few reviews always makes it seem worth while. It took me a while to get some, but now, I get plenty for each, hehe. So, keep at it. You'll get there.

Brianna Ishtar: Lol! He's down, but not out.

Isis the Sphinx: Thanks about the comeback. Couldn't have Illidan sent to the Shadow Realm early, now could I? Lol, but thanks, and yes, you can kill them, I guess, just this once. Only in your mind though, not physically, hehe.

Well, that's it for me today. I'll post again Monday most likely. Till then, enjoy.

Chapter 51

The spirit only sat there, shocked at his loss. Illidan then snapped him back into reality, saying "You lose spirit, and now you must leave the boy's mind and return to the Millennium Ring as you agreed."

Growling, the spirit stood up, angrily saying "Never! I'd rather die than give up the boy's body. I will never leave this vessel!"

Illidan sighed, thinking that this might happen. "So, he won't go down without a fight. Fine, let him be that way."

Looking at the spirit, Illidan slowly began to walk towards him. Seeing Illidan was advancing, the spirit slowly backed up, but then smirked as he took hold of his Millennium Ring with his right hand. It began to glow with power, showing he wasn't ready to give up yet.

"I refuse to give up my vessel. Try and stop me if you want, but I think you'll find it impossible to defeat me. And I have a feeling you'll be losing your soul if you try to take the boy from me!" spat the spirit angrily.

Illidan then grabbed his Millennium Key in his right hand and continued to slowly advance on the spirit. His key slowly began to glow rather brightly, showing his item was indeed powerful as well.

With steel in his voice, Illidan said "If you won't leave his body peacefully, then you leave me with no choice but to force you out. Prepare yourself for a Shadow Game, one much like what you did to Pegasus."

Puzzled, the spirit asked "How do you know about what I did to him?"

Slightly smiling, Illidan replied "The Millennium Key has told me what it sensed that day. It told me of the tremendous energy it felt from your ring and his eye. Pegasus was exhausted from his duel with Yami, and was for sure no match for anyone at the moment. You knew that and took full advantage of him, knowing he desperately wanted more Millennium Items. That is no way to play a Shadow Game against someone. If you can't fight someone when they're at full strength, then it just shows how big a coward you are."

Pausing, Illidan then looked at him with somewhat softer eyes, saying "I remember once that you were nothing more than a kind soul in ancient times. You were one of eight that were on the Shadow Court, and you helped protect Egypt with all that you were, much like how all eight of us did. You even helped heal the people of Egypt, giving many a second chance at life. Then you changed the day of the battle with Gozaburo. The Millennium Crown somehow or another corrupted you, tainting your once innocent spirit, which changed you into a thief, an evil doer, and nothing more than a criminal."

Again pausing, Illidan then showed his ice cold eyes again, saying "I couldn't believe what had happened, for you betrayed us all in the end, yet you seem to feel no guilt, no pity, and no remorse about your actions that day. And here we are once again, five millennia later, and yet you still don't understand what you've done or become. I felt slightly guilty that your soul was trapped within your Millennium Ring, but after attempting to do the unthinkable by stealing all the items and trying to conquer the world with them, I lost that guilt. I realize now that your soul will forever be tormented by this greed and blinding inhabitation, for you care nothing about anyone."

Staring now at the spirit with eyes of burning anger, Illidan said "Even the vessel you are so protective of, you care nothing for him. You'd let him die if need be for your own schemes to succeed. Now I must put an end to the endless destruction you brought about, and I'll do it with the thing you have been after since you met me. I will seal you away forever after this match, but I will offer you one last chance to surrender. Come peacefully and I'll allow you to live with the vessel, but you must never do anything against his will or harm him. If you choose to not do this, then I shall seal you away forever. I have no desire to do it, but I will do what is right for your vessel and the world."

Growling, the spirit pointed his Millennium Ring directly at Illidan, saying "I'll never give up this vessel! And he will never be free from me. Now, die!"

The ring glowed with immense power and fired a beam straight at Illidan. Illidan then pointed his key at the spirit, firing a beam as well directly at the beam coming his way. The two beams met in the center between the two, showing that the power of both items seemed rather even.

Laughing evilly, the spirit taunted Illidan, saying "Is that all you have Illidan? You'd better prepare to lose then if it is!"

The spirit then increased the power going into his ring, forcing the beam to slowly push back towards Illidan.

With a voice of steel, Illidan said "You don't get it, do you? I can't and won't let you win!"

With that said, more power flared out of Illidan's key, causing the beam to center up once again. The spirit growled with frustration, surprised Illidan was still so strong. Once again, the spirit poured more power into his ring, pushing the beam slowly back towards Illidan.

"Die fool!" screamed the spirit.

Still staring at the spirit with cold eyes, Illidan replied "I don't think so spirit. I won't let you harm that boy or my friends. Now, perish!"

With that, more power flared out of Illidan, causing the beam he was firing to grow much stronger. The extra energy pushed the beam straight back to the center and then some back towards the spirit. There was only a few inches of safety now for the spirit, for Illidan had purposely left the beam a bit away from the spirit's body.

With icy eyes still, Illidan said "Give up now, or die!"

Staring at the icy look Illidan had on his face, the spirit suddenly realized Illidan was still holding back some of his power. "He could have easily destroyed me already. I see like me, he has grown stronger, but still, that don't mean I can't win still!"

Laughing evilly, the spirit then said "This may cost me all my energy, but I'll defeat you!"

Pouring all his power into the beam, the spirit then watched as the beam then pushed back towards the center, but suddenly it went no further. Now the spirit was just struggling to hold the beam right there.

Shocked, the spirit yelled "How can this be? You shouldn't be this strong!"

With a voice of steel, Illidan replied "I am, and I intend to stop you right now. I gave you a chance and you have turned me down. Now I have no choice. Time for you to go away forever spirit!"

With that said, Illidan then pushed even more power into his Millennium Key and the beam grew larger and flew straight back into the spirit, causing a powerful shockwave. The spirit then tumbled backwards as Illidan quickly ran over to him and pressed his Millennium Key to the spirit's head, and simply turned it.

Instantly, Illidan was inside of Bakura's mind. He was in a hallway that had two rooms. One room that was on the left looked like a normal door of pure innocence, yet the other door that was on the right had the Millennium Symbol on it.

Realizing that was the room he needed, Illidan proceeded towards the door. As he passed the innocent door, suddenly the door crept open to reveal a frightened boy with tears in his eyes. To say the least, he seemed to be scared witless.

In a timid voice, he said "Are you here to stop the spirit?"

Illidan could tell immediately that the boy was terrified of the spirit. "The spirit must have kept him in his room. No wonder Bakura is scared of the spirit. The spirit has such awesome powers that the poor boy is terrified of him."

"Leave him be!" yelled someone down the hall.

Illidan looked back towards the spirit's room to see him in the doorway. This spirit, the one he once called friend, as well that was once called Bakura only glared at him. The young boy quickly jumped in behind Illidan when he had heard the spirit speak.

"So much fear is in this boy. He knows the spirit will do whatever it takes to keep his body for himself."

In a calm voice, Illidan said "Please, stop this madness. As a spirit, you know that you have a duty to protect your vessel, and the duty to respect the vessel's wishes. This boy has no wish to hurt anyone and only wishes to live a peaceful life. Yet you ignore him and his wishes so you can fulfill your own desires. Please stop this now before I have no choice but to seal you away forever."

Laughing, the spirit replied with steel in his voice, saying "You will not be doing anything to this boy Illidan! I will remain in control, and he'll like it one way or another! Now vessel, come here to me. Help me destroy this foolish intruder."

The boy only continued to cower behind Illidan. He was shaking, knowing that if he disobeyed, the spirit would be mad at him. Realizing this, Illidan thought "He's so scared. I don't think he'll do it. I hope he won't. I'd hate to seal two souls."

Growling, the spirit ran towards Illidan, who simply jumped forward and kicked the spirit in the stomach, knocking him against the back of the hallway. Taking this opportunity, Illidan then quickly ran and grabbed the spirit before he could recover. Gathering him up, he quickly tossed the spirit back into his room, knowing he didn't have any time to waste.

The spirit quickly recovered from being thrown and the two locked hands together, pushing one another. As the struggle continued on, the young boy slowly inched his way down the hall towards the fight. Seeing this, Illidan quickly delivered a kick into the gut of the spirit once more, making the spirit fly further back into his room.

Quickly leaving the room, Illidan saw the boy by the door and he screamed "NOW BAKURA!"

The boy grabbed hold of the door and slammed it shut. Illidan then took his Millennium Key and pushed it into the lock on the door, making the door instantly lock.

The spirit then came screaming to the door, screaming "LET ME OUT NOW! I CANNOT BE SEALED! YOU'LL NEVER GET RID OF ME!"

Illidan then placed a barrier over the door, causing all sound within that room to cease from being heard on the outside. Illidan then placed a strong seal on the door with his Millennium Key's help. He made the seal so only a person controlling his Millennium Key could unlock the door.

Sighing, Illidan looked at the youth and said "Thank you for your help. So, you're the real Bakura Ryou?"

Nodding timidly, the boy said "Yes, I am. I'm sorry for all the spirit did. I couldn't stop him. Gozaburo released him last night during your tag team duel. I couldn't stop him. I just was no match for his powers..."

The boy then fell to the floor, sobbing, saying "He's hurt so many people. He could have hurt so many more if not for you. I wish I'd never been given this awful ring. It's done nothing but horrible things ever since I've received it. Why Yugi returned it to me I'll never know."

Puzzled, Illidan asked "Yugi gave you back the ring?"

Still crying, Bakura nodded, saying "After the Battle City Tournament, Yugi had four Millennium Items altogether. He had The Millennium Puzzle, my Millennium Ring, Mairk's Millennium Rod, and Ishizu's Millennium Necklace. About a month or two ago, right before the announcement of Tournament of Power, he returned each of our items to us. He said that he was lending them back to us, hoping that in the next few months of darkness that we'd be able to help him."

Then stopping for a moment, Bakura continued, saying "With Yami's help, I was able to seal away the dark spirit of the Millennium Ring. He was still able to whisper to me, but it was a small price to pay for all he had done to those I loved and cared about."

More tears began to fall, as Bakura continued to release the emotions that were locked away deep within him. "Then last night, Gozaburo called me to his office during the tag team duel. When I got there, I found his room torn to pieces, but he let me in anyways. Once in, he asked me about the spirit of my Millennium Ring. I refused to answer about him and prepared to leave. He then pulled out a strange looking crown that had the Millennium Symbol on it. He then used his item to break the seal that was keeping the spirit locked away. He was easily freed and instantly took over my body. I was in fear, knowing that he'd destroy me for sealing him. But he didn't destroy me. He only told me to stay in my chamber. Then he continued his control of my body. But I know the terrible things he has done. All the awful crimes he's committed against so many innocent people. No matter how hard I try, I still can't erase the evil he leaves!"

Bakura then began sob even more, bashing the floor of the hallway with his fists, saying "I know all that he's done, and he says that I'm the cause of it. But I can't stop him. I want to, but I can't!"

Bakura only continued to cry while he bashed the floor more. Illidan stood there, feeling deep remorse for what the spirit had done to the poor boy. "I feel so bad for him. He's had to bear the brunt of the spirit's evil for so long. He never got a chance to be himself."

Lightly patting the boy's should, Illidan said in a kind voice "Don't worry Bakura. From now on, things are going to be different."

Looking up at Illidan with a tear streaked face, he asked "What do you mean? He can still get free, and then he'll only continue to hurt the ones I love again."

Illidan then got down onto his knees, and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, calmly, yet kindly saying "No, he won't ever harm you again. I sealed him in his room permanently this time. Only my Millennium Key can set him free, and I don't intend on freeing him, or ever to try. Please understand, it's not your fault that the spirit took possession of you. You were just along for the ride when he took control of your body. You have nothing to be sorry for. It was never your desire to hurt people. It was his only. I promise, if he ever comes back again, I'll stop him for you. You're not alone Bakura. Remember, your friends are always there for you, and I'll always be here to help you."

Standing up, Illidan then offered his hand to the boy, who gladly took it. Looking around, Illidan then said "Now, let's get out of here and back to normal. I've had enough of these Shadow Games for one day."

Slowly, Bakura dried his tears and then slightly grinned, saying "Thanks."

Smiling, Illidan replied "No problem Bakura."

Illidan's Millennium Key then glowed as they both returned to the world they had left. Illidan then took his key back away from Bakura's head. Bakura blinked his eyes and then slowly got up, realizing they were still in the Shadow Realm. Yami, Marie, and Marik then rushed over to see how the two were doing.

"Are you two alright?" asked Marie.

Smiling, Illidan replied "We're both fine. It's all under control now."

Yami nodded and Marik then asked "What happened to the spirit of the Millennium Ring, Illidan?"

Illidan looked over at Marik, saying "He's having a permanent time out in his room right now. He won't be bothering us again, hopefully ever. As long as I control the Millennium Key, he'll never be free again."

Bakura then looked at Illidan, asking "What now?"

Looking around, Illidan replied "Well Bakura, we end this Shadow Game. Even though I won, you must use your ring to put an end to this Shadow Game."

Nodding, Bakura then concentrated on his ring and the Shadow Realm slowly disappeared. Once the Shadow Realm finally disappeared, Illidan and the others were seen once again on the field. The judge quickly ran over and saw that Illidan's life point counter still had points while Bakura's had zero.

The judge, with a still bewildered look on his face, said "The winner of this duel, Illidan Stormrage!"

Illidan smiled, happy that he'd won, but happier that he'd helped Bakura escape the evil of the Millennium Ring once and for all. Looking at the boy who was smiling happily, Illidan silently thought "Maybe now Bakura can have a life of peace."

Joey and the others that had been waiting for the sphere to disappear then ran up and were filled with questions.

During the questions, Joey pointed at Illidan's Millennium Key and asked "Hey Illidan, where did you get that thing?"

Lightly smiling, Illidan replied "I got it long ago Joey, and I'm finally showing that I have it. I know Gozaburo will know for sure now that I'm the reincarnation of the past Illidan, so let him see it to know that I'm him for sure."

Scratching his head due to his confusion, Joey just gave a reply of "Ok…"

The group continued to talk for a while till they realized the rest of the duels had to continue.

Elsewhere in the tower, Gozaburo was sitting in his office calmly watching the festivities. For once, he didn't tear up his office due to the win Illidan had. He sat there, staring at his monitor of the Duel Ring, smirking evilly.

In an evil voice, he said "So, you've finally shown that you have the Millennium Key. Well, that only means one thing. You are the true reincarnation of Illidan Stormrage from ancient times. I knew you'd show yourself eventually. That foolish spirit of the Millennium Ring failed me, but no matter. I'll finish you off soon enough Illidan. Yes, soon enough." Gozaburo then laughed evilly, for he knew how to do it as well.