Hello once more people. Glad everyone liked the last chapter, but yeah, I know, you all want the duel with Yami. Well, hang in there. Once Shadi is taken care of, the duel will be getting ready to happen. So, bear with me for another chapter or two. Now, let's get to those reviews.

Metal Overlord 2.0: LOL! Yeah, lots and lots of stamina, hehe. Actually, Shadow Powers wise, due that Yami has no memory, Illidan is actually stronger. If Yami could regain his memories, then yeah, he'd overpower Illidan once more, but in the past, the two were close in power till Illidan returned from his training. Lol, yeah, Yugi's deck vs. real life would suck. His deck is a total mismatch of many monsters put together which really don't belong together. As for Illidan's deck, yeah, it's more real life than Yugi's. In all actuality, I based his deck off of a Chaos deck I really ran. Most of the cards were in there, but I modified it for the story, like added the Magnet Warriors (I always liked them, but they're so damn impossible to really play in all practicality, unless you focus on only them) and a few other monsters, spells, and traps. Perhaps they do have a draw… Or perhaps not, hehe. But he's not human! He's half demon… I mean he's human, lol! But seriously, we'll see, hehe. As for Shadi, get the dust pan out so we can sweep the dust away, lol. For real though, you'll find out this chapter. And the duel with Yugi is coming, so patients young one, lol.

thehyperactivecow: Yep, a cliffe. Maybe pick up a broom and dust pan and sweep the dust away from the aging Shadi, lol. Yeah, I thought it'd be interesting to give Joey the win. Everyone underestimates him, so I thought why not throw him into the mix. I could have wrote that duel, but due to the fact I've wrote so many others, I didn't want to, lol.

Tomb Robber Vicky: Yep, lots and lots packed. You find out Illidan was a bit of a letch, Marie likes sheets… Wait, that's not right, lol. But seriously, a lot did happen in one chapter. But thanks for the comments.

Isis the Sphinx: It actually didn't. My story gives you bits and pieces of the past, unlike her story that will give you the whole story and a plot. Her plot doesn't revolve around my story at all really. But yeah, he's dying. Gotta suck to be him, lol.

Takes a deep breath. Wow, that was a lot of writing, hehe. Anyways, I'm glad to write so much. I'm happy that people are interested in this fan fic, and that is what makes posting this thing so much fun. Anyways, my fiancé, Cindy (I know, I never call her by name usually, lol), didn't get anything wrote on her story I believe, so that sucks. But oh well, she had more fun things to do (not me, sadly…). I know, I'm such a letch, hehe, but oh well. More than likely, after I see how many chapters I have, I'll post tomorrow or Monday, so till then, enjoy.

Chapter 73

Shadi only looked curiously at Illidan. He still had no idea what Illidan could do to stop the aging. His immortality was linked to Illidan's Millennium Key, and only by wearing it would he keep his immortality.

Illidan told Shadi to wait while while he went and changed, so he wouldn't be standing there in his night clothes anymore. Soon enough, he returned in his clothes he had worn earlier in the day.

Sitting down next to Shadi, Illidan said "Ok Shadi, I am going to return your immortality to you now."

Shadi only looked at Illidan with questioning eyes, asking "How can you? You would have to give the Millennium Key to me in order for me to remain immortal."

Illidan only smiled, replying with "Not so my friend. I have another way of keeping you immortal. I remember how I made you immortal in the first place. I had transferred a good bit of spiritual energy from my Millennium Key into your body. Of course, it drained me for a short time, but it was enough to keep you alive for millennia's. So, I'm going to do the same thing again."

Shadi still looked at Illidan with unknowing eyes, and asked "Do you think it will work again?"

"Very good question my friend. As far as I know, it should grant you immortality again, I think." replied Illidan slowly.

Still seeing uncertainty in Shadi's eyes, Illidan then said "What I mean to do is to transfer more spiritual energy into you, but to have an anchor for the spiritual energy. Last time, I anchored the energy into my Millennium Key and your body. This time I'll use your Millennium Scales and your body as anchors. Fate gave you the scales to keep, so I will just create a link between them and your body so you can keep your immortality."

Shadi now seemed to understand and asked "So, you plan to use my Millennium Scales as the new link for my immortality?"

Illidan nodded, replying with "Yes, I do. See, each of the items was forged by me and Gozaburo. Gozaburo did the actual forging of metal, but I was the one that built the seals within the items to contain the great amounts of Shadow Magic. The seals allowed me to access to an item's power, but only if the user allowed me access."

Shadi's brow furrowed and he asked "Then why didn't you try to activate the seal in the Millennium Crown when Gozaburo went on his rampage?"

Illidan only sighed. "I couldn't. I had to have Gozaburo give me permission to activate the seal. I would have tried, but with the way Gozaburo was that day, I couldn't activate it. After all, getting permission from him that day would have been insane. I was just more worried about everyone there that day than trying to access my seal on the crown. Now, back to work on getting you back to normal."

Sighing, Shadi then spoke up, saying "Wait Illidan, can you make it so that I'm just mortal again? As much as I do know that my destiny is to guard the Millennium Items, I also wish to find out my other destiny. All the items are gone now, meaning their guardian is now useless."

Illidan smiled and patted his friend on the back, saying "You're not useless. You have done an excellent job in defending the items all these millennia, but I do understand. I can make it so you are mortal again. You will be as the same age as you were when I made you immortal the first time, which was 22 years old. Is that what you really want though, because I don't know if I can ever reverse this again?"

Thinking for a long moment, Shadi finally said "Yes, I wish to become mortal again. I want to live out the remainder of my life with someone. I don't want to continue living forever, knowing that they'll die one day while I must live on. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Smiling, Illidan completely understood what Shadi was saying. "He must be in love. Hmm, I have heard rumors that he had seen Ishizu during and after the Battle City Tournament. I wonder if that's who he speaks of. I guess Shadi is turning into the ladies man. Then again, he hasn't had the chance to see a woman in five millennia. I'm sure that has made him rather lonely. Oh well, I'll leave him be about it. I'll ask him later possibly."

Seeing that Shadi only looked at him seriously still, Illidan finally nodded, saying "Yes Shadi, I understand you desire to be mortal. You desire to live as a mortal so you no longer have to bear this duty and so that you can live the rest of your life. And I can guess a certain person has caught your eye as well."

Shadi blushed deeply at this, and started stuttering, trying to say "I, uh…"

Laughing, Illidan placed a hand on his shoulder, saying "It's alright Shadi. I can guess who it is, but it's alright. You don't have to talk about it."

Shadi still had a deep shade of crimson on his cheeks from his embarrassment, but sighed, saying "I guess while being a Tomb Keeper, I never really thought about the loneliness that much. When the tomb was finally reopened, and the items dispensed, I realized I had such an empty life. No one was around to share it with, other than the family that protected the pharaoh's tomb, and I rarely talked to them at that. It was in a way a sad lonely life, but I would do it again, due that it was my destiny and I was duty bound to fulfill it till the end."

Slightly smiling, Illidan clasped Shadi's shoulder, saying "It's alright. I understand how you feel. Believe me, the loneliness that fills a person's heart can be maddening. Before me and Marie were ever married in ancient times, I was just as lonely. I lost my father when I was eight, and then I was swept away to where I had no friends. Sure, I made friends, but still, I felt empty on the inside. Then I met Marie, and all the loneliness I had within me disappeared. She brought joy into my life, joy that I never imagined I could ever have or ever deserved. I'm sure you and Ishizu will find that same joy together..."

Illidan then suddenly realized what he'd just blurted out, and rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin, saying "Oops, didn't mean to blurt that out."

Shadi had once again blushed into a deep crimson red all over his face.

Sighing, Illidan decided to move on, and said "Anyways, let's get back to making you mortal."

With a simple nod, Shadi slowly let the crimson color disappear from his cheeks.

Standing, Illidan said "Alright, first, you must allow me to borrow your Millennium Scales. Then I'll activate the seal within it in order to begin the link up."

Shadi reached within his cloak and pulled out a golden pair of scales that had the Millennium Symbol on it. He then handed it to Illidan, who just looked at them.

Smiling, Illidan said "Hard to believe it's been five millennia since I've seen this Millennium Item. They're still so shiny!"

Shadi couldn't help but laugh at that small joke along with Illidan. Illidan then stopped laughing and his face turned serious as he said "Ok, now back to business."

Picking his key up with his free hand, he pointed it straight at the scales. Both slightly glowed as Illidan used his key to search for his seal. The five millennia old seal then activated, giving Illidan full access to all of it's power.

Smiling, he thought "Good, my seal is still holding and appears in working order. This should be easy."

Slowly, he began pouring power from himself into the scales, creating a set of links between them and Shadi's body. He continued transferring the energy between the two as he had done five millennia ago with Shadi the first time, but this time he made sure to make the transfer restore Shadi's youth and to keep him mortal.

As Illidan's power continued to transfer, Shadi's eyes started to change, as did his skin color. No longer looking as if death had set in, Shadi's skin shined brighter and looked so much more natural. His eyes had reverted from their grey death color to hazel. At last, Illidan finished the final thread between the two.

When he finished, he slightly wobbled, feeling light headed from the loss of energy. "That took a good bit more energy than I thought it would. I guess if I don't regain my strength before the morning, I can have Bakura help restore my energy."

Shadi slowly blinked for a moment and then looked at his hands. He smiled, saying "I feel alive again. Like you've replaced the spirit in my body or something."

All Illidan could do was snicker at the small analogy his friend had made, and said "Take a look in the mirror and you'll see something you'll really like."

Shadi walked over to the mirror in the corner of the room and nearly jumped back at what he saw in it's reflection. There stood he stood, looking exactly like he had five millennia ago. His skin was a bit more colorful rather than a dull color, and he saw for first time in five millennia that his eyes had color to them.

Shocked, he said "I… I… don't know…"

Sensing that his friend was trying to thank him, Illidan said "It's ok Shadi. It's no problem. I was glad to help you."

They shook hands and Shadi started to bow to Illidan, but Illidan stopped him, saying "No Shadi, you shouldn't bow to me. It is I who should bow to you. If not for your dedication to protecting the Millennium Items, most likely none of us would be around now. I thank you for that dedication."

He then bowed kindly to Shadi. Shadi only smiled, and turned to leave, saying "Thank you my friend. I must go now. Farewell and good luck with your duel. I will remain here till the end of the tournament. I have faith that you can put an end to this insanity Illidan."

Shadi slowly walked for the door, and was nearly about to leave when Illidan cleared his throat, which gained Shadi's attention.

"Shadi, aren't you forgetting something?" asked Illidan.

Thinking for a moment, Shadi replied "I don't think so."

Illidan then jingled the Millennium Scales in his hand, which made Shadi's mind snap back into reality. Illidan only chuckled, saying "Oh really Shadi. I guess then you don't need these?"

Shadi turned bright red with embarrassment and walked back towards Illidan saying "How could I forget those!"

Illidan only laughed at his friend and handed the scales back to Shadi. Shadi quickly tucked them back away within his cloak, and smiled, saying "Thank you again my friend. Now, I am off."

Smiling, Illidan said in a sarcastic voice with laugher in it "Go getter tiger!"

Shadi only laughed and quickly left Illidan's room.