Hello once more everyone. Glad everyone liked the remainder of the duel with Yami. I made it one of the most intense duels of the story, mostly due that it was a true test to see if Illidan did stand a chance or not. Obviously, he stands a chance, but does that guarantee he'll face Gozaburo, we'll see. After all, there is another day of dueling left, plus that night. So, you never know. Now, time to get to the reviews for the day.
thehyperactivecow: He may not make it all the way. You never know, and I'm sure there are many surprises left that could take him out of contention.
Ultimate Legendary Master: Actually, you can discard Valkyrion to summon the three Magnet Warriors. I did research on that one, but as for the move where Illidan brought back Valkyrion with Monster Reborn, I forgot he couldn't do that. You have to summon Valkyrion in order to be allowed to special summon it back with Monster Reborn. Oh well, I only stretched it slightly, lol.
Isis the Sphinx: It was easy. I said he lost, lol. Ouch, that sounds painful. Btw, my fiancé said thanks for reviewing her story. She's glad you liked the chapter, and there will be a Marie chapter next, hehe. Also, I was curious if you could guess who the sandy blonde haired nomad was. She wrote that in to explain that character's future.
Metal Overlord 2.0: Thanks. I tried hard to make that duel one of the best in the story. Only one other probably tops it, maybe two. Or more, lol, not sure. But yeah, I wasn't offended at the least. It was humorous to me, so I didn't mind one bit.
Tomb Robber Vicky: Thanks for the comments. More than likely, Gozaburo will try to get rid of Illidan, but who knows what that nut job will throw at him. Well, I know, hehe, but I won't tell. Zips lips.
pink-kiss-candy: Lol! So, he didn't become a Gary Stu. HURRAY! Lol, thanks for the comments. Smacks Ryou in head with baseball bat. Happy now? Now you're ugly, so shut up!
Brianna Ishtar: Ok… Poor Ryou. He's just too sweet and innocent for his own good.
Well, that's all I have for today. Btw, I posted the third chapter of my fiancé's story on her site. If you're interested in the past lives of Illidan and Marie, or are just looking for another good fic, I'd suggest it. You don't have to know a thing about Tournament of Power to enjoy it. Even this story you don't have to know about the past, but it's mixed in. At any rate, I'd suggest reading it. You'll find things out about Illidan and Marie that I didn't mention in this story, or my next.
Anyways, that's all I have for today, so till tomorrow. Btw, I'm posting two chapters today due to missing yesterday. So, enjoy.
Chapter 81
When the day of dueling was done, the stats were once again updated. Illidan had won his hard fought duel against Yugi. Bakura and Marie squared off with Marie coming out with a win. Seto faced off in an angry duel with Keith. Slowly, after a great deal of torturing Keith, Seto won. Marik faced Joey, and against all odds, Joey won the duel. The win shocked the entire crowd, not to mention Marik himself. The final duel saw Mai taking on Noa. Mai had the duel nearly won, but Noa won the duel in the last second.
The stats slightly changed. Illidan remained 1st, followed by Yugi in 2nd, then Marie in 3rd, a new 4th place runner was Joey, Marik slipped to 5th, Seto remained 6th, as well as Noa in 7th, same for Bakura in 8th, as well as Mai in 9th, and finally Keith rounding out at 10th.
Once the duels were over, everyone went to their rooms. An announcement followed soon made by the judge. "Duelists, tonight there will be a Tag Team Gauntlet. It will consist of all teams in action. Illidan and Marie will begin the duel with another team. Once a team is defeated, a new team is moved in. The team left standing will be the new Tag Team Champions. This duel will begin at 7:00 P.M. sharp. That is all."
With that announcement, some of the teams got together in each others rooms to discuss strategy for the duel.
Meanwhile, silently, Shadi came out from his hiding place. He slowly walked down the hallway towards Ishizu's room. As he slowly walked towards her room, his mind was in complete confusion. He'd wanted this for so long, yet he was scared. He had just wanted to have a chance to live his life out with a woman that he loved. Over the years, Shadi had remained alone while fulfilling his duties. He had many chances to take up a wife, or at least a companion, but he chose to remain alone.
In the beginning, he only had contact with the Tomb Keepers of the Pharaoh's remains. The original Tomb Keepers had been Illidan and Marie's own son, Kai Stormrage. Him and his then married wife guarded the tomb of the pharaoh for years, till finally they passed away. Of course, they had had children during their many years, and their children eventually took over guarding the tomb. This continued for many years. The tradition lasted for five millennia. Eventually over time, the name Stormrage faded away due that one group only had a daughter. She married a man with the last name Ishtar, which replaced the family name Stormrage for all times. Shadi had only laughed at the time that the name Stormrage had finally faded from the Tomb Keepers, but was sad due that the name had reminded him so much of his friends.
For centuries, he had watched the Tomb Keepers help protect the Pharaoh's remains. Still, Shadi knew that he probably shouldn't watch over them, but he did it in order to keep from being too lonely. From time to time, he would drop in on the Tomb Keeper's to just visit and see their children, and in general to just associate with someone.
Things slowly changed though over the years. The newest children of the Tomb Keepers he had great interest in, especially their daughter. Her name was Ishizu Ishtar, who was amazingly a descendant of Illidan and Marie. To him, it was amazing how much the family still bore some resemblance to Illidan and Marie. She was a beautiful girl who slowly grew into a much more beautiful young woman.
Her brother, Marik Ishtar, had become initiated at an early age as the next Tomb Keeper. He grew to hate this fact that he was destined to guard the tomb of the pharaoh rather than get to live a normal life. His step brother, Odion, pledged his loyalty to Marik, promising to protect him forever.
From the first day Shadi had met Marik, he knew the boy didn't want the duty of guarding the pharaoh, but there was no one else to do it. So, he sadly turned a blind eye to Marik's resentment. When Marik had received the Tomb Keeper's initiation, something happened though. Shadi had felt a great evil born on that day. He wasn't sure how, but it was. Marik soon after changed. He now showed his resentment more and more towards his father for being forced to become a Tomb Keeper.
In his heart, Shadi felt sorry for him, knowing Marik would be forced to live a lonely life like he had. Then a fateful day came that Marik and Ishizu snuck out of the tomb. They went to a nearby village, visiting, seeing the sights basically. He had tailed them and watched over them, making sure they weren't harmed while out on their run. While following them, he saw how Marik loved the outside world, but knew Marik had a duty. Afraid that Marik would abandon his duty, he warned both, hating to have to tell both that they had a duty to fulfill, but knew it had to be done.
After he had warned them, he used his Millennium Key to disappear. Marik and Ishizu soon returned to the tomb, only to find out their father had found out they had snuck out due to a trap. They found a beaten and bloody Odion in the main room of the tomb. Marik begged for his father to not harm Odion, but his father had made up his mind. He banished Odion from the tomb.
This was too much for Marik to handle. The evil within him bubbled to the surface and took control. The evil within Marik then used the Millennium Rod on his father, pinning him to the wall. He did the same to Ishizu, which made Shadi almost step in, but realized he should wait and see what Marik was going to do.
Marik, or more like the evil within Marik, then sent his father to the Shadow Realm. Laughing at what he'd just done, he then turned to Odion, saying he was next. Shadi was ready to step in, but suddenly Odion got through to Marik, forcing the evil within him to hide once again. He dropped the Millennium Rod and cried out in pain, not even knowing what he'd done. Tears streamed down Marik's face when he saw his father slumped over.
Shadi appeared to the three then, telling Marik to stop going down the path of evil. Odion protected Marik, consoling him from then on. Odion managed to keep the evil within Marik locked away for nearly ten years. The evil would slightly rise to the surface at times, but never take control like before.
Shadi had continued to watch over Marik and Odion, but especially Ishizu. The day Marik left, she took possession of the Millennium Necklace. She then swore to uphold the honor of the Tomb Keepers till her own death. Shadi then came and comforted her during her times of sadness. The two spent a great deal of time together. He would try and help her through her sad times, and would stay as long as it took. Also, the comforting helped him, for the loneliness in his heart seemed to disappear the longer he stayed with her. Still, he was afraid to act on what he felt for her, knowing he would end up broken hearted when she would eventually die while he lived on.
After a few more years, Pegasus asked Shadi for help. He needed to hide the three Egyptian God Cards, and Shadi decided he'd have Ishizu help with it. Unfortunately, Marik caught wind that the God Cards were now available, so he began taking them one by one. He claimed two, Slifer the Sky Dragon and The Winged Dragon of Ra for his own easily.
When he made an attempt to reclaim the last one, Ishizu stepped in and hid it from him. Furious at this, Marik threatened to take it form her. Afraid for Ishizu, Shadi sent her to Japan in order to protect her. There she convinced Seto Kaiba, Set's reincarnation, to throw the Battle City Tournament and even gave him the third Egyptian God Card.
After the tournament was over and done with, Shadi wanted to talk to Ishizu, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Her life had been slowly brought back around to full circle since her brother no longer was under the control of the evil being. Her brother and step brother were together again, enjoying one another's company, but Shadi hadn't gotten the chance to tell Ishizu what he really wanted to. Still afraid of what would happen, he decided to remain a wanderer. So, he continued on, thinking it was foolishness to fall in love with a mortal. After all, he was immortal, and would never get to share a life with her forever. He would outlive her easily.
About one month or so after Battle City, he was contacted by Ishizu. He was extremely happy to see her again, as was she to see him. She then told him of her visions and asked him to find Illidan. She wanted him to make sure that this was the truly reborn Illidan Stormrage of the past. Shadi was ecstatic that his old friend had possibly been reborn.
He did as asked and filled Illidan in on what was going on after making sure that it was truly his friend. He then told Ishizu that it was done. She then told him that she was going with Marik and Odion to Gozaburo's tournament. He warned her not to, not only due that he worried about her going, but due that she had the Millennium Necklace still, making her a target for Gozaburo possibly.
She had then informed her that she was to give the item to Marie O'Dell, whom he learned was truly Marie of the ancient past. Now he knew Ishizu would be in danger due that she would no longer have her item to protect herself. Carefully, he hid himself on the barge and went with everyone to the island. He hid himself well once they arrived, making sure to keep out of sight.
The only problem he encountered was, without the Millennium Key to continue holding his immortality stable, he was aging and fast. He hadn't felt the effects at first till a few days later. He quickly realized that if he didn't find a way to reverse the aging, he'd die before the end of the tournament. With this realization, he showed himself to Illidan and explained what was happening.
Illidan, being the caring friend he was, helped him link his mortality to his Millennium Scales. Shadi was now given the one thing he wanted always, which was a chance to be with Ishizu and to spend their lives together. One thing worried him though. Would she accept his love? Did she even have feelings for him? He pondered these things all the time since he had met her, but ever since he regained his mortality, these were questions on his mind constantly.
At last, he arrived to his destination and sighed. He was trembling with fear at the mere fact of asking a simple question. "I've never been this afraid of anything, not even Gozaburo in ancient times. Why am I so afraid of this? Is it due that I'm afraid she might reject me?"
Suddenly, before he could knock or ring the buzzer, the door opened. There stood Marik, who was apparently leaving.
Shadi snapped out of his thoughts and realized Marik was standing there staring at him. He quickly stammered out "Oh, so sorry."
Marik only looked at Shadi, and finally asked "You're Shadi, right?"
Shadi only nodded, and Marik slightly smiled, saying "I remember you now. You was that stranger I remember from when I was a child. I'm sorry we never really got to talk back then. I'm Marik, but of course, you know. I'm guessing you're here to see Ishizu though. She's still in there. Go on in."
Shadi only could nod and walked into the room slowly. As the door closed, Marik only smiled, thinking "So, that's Shadi. Hmm, I think Ishizu will be real happy to see him again. She only has talked about him forever. I think she's in love with him, and by the way he looked, he is too." Smiling inwardly again, Marik only walked on towards his own room.
In Ishizu's room, Shadi slowly looked for her. He didn't see her in the main area, so he walked into the kitchen. Again, no signs of Ishizu. He walked into the bedroom and saw her clothes on the bed and noticed the bathroom door was shut. He also heard a shower running.
Sighing, he turned to leave, thinking "She's in the shower. I should leave before she sees me."
He was turned around to leave when suddenly the door opened. There stood a girl with damp black hair, water dripping off her tan skin, and blue eyes, with a towel wrapped around her beautiful hourglass figure.
Ishizu gave off a slight scream as Shadi covered his eyes. She yelled "SHADI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!"
His face was a deep shade of crimson, as he slowly said while looking away "I'm so sorry Ishizu. I came to see you, but I was about to leave when I saw you was in the shower."
Ishizu's face was bright red as well, as she stared at the floor. Her mind was racing, as was her heart. She quickly grabbed the clothes she had setting on the bed up in her arms and ran towards the bathroom. Before going in, she said "I'll be right back once I get dressed."
When the door shut, Shadi let out a sigh of relief, but the blush on his face just wouldn't disappear. His cheeks burned, and his heart pounded within his chest. "I wonder if Marik knew she was going to take a shower when he left and just let me wonder in. If he did, he'll pay for that…"
His thoughts were interrupted though as the door opened back up. Ishizu stepped back out in a white dress with gold trim on it. Shadi glanced up to see her, and was mesmerized by her beauty. Her long damp black raven hair hung free, with her beautiful bluish-green eyes looking at him. The dress she wore clung to her curves due that her skin was slightly damp, which just made him give off a small gasp. The view completely took his breath away. He just stood there staring at her, speechless as the blush he fought furiously to dismiss returned.
With a blush on her own face from his evaluation of her body, she finally asked "Shadi?"
He finally snapped out of his stare by voice, the voice of an angel to him. Again, he fell back into his stupor, to only be woken up again from her asking "Well?"
He turned his head away, afraid to look at her again, knowing he would only go back into his stupor if he did. Curious to why Shadi wouldn't look at her, Ishizu gently said "Shadi, what is it? I've never seen you so flustered."
He could only look down now, afraid to look at her. At last, he finally regained some of his composure and looked up at her, but nearly lost it again. Sighing, he thought "Better now than never I guess."
Slowly, and with much blush on his face, he said "Ishizu, I've been curious about something. Have you ever felt so alone in the world, like you've been waiting for someone for a very long time?"
Ishizu nodded, knowing what he meant. Blush slightly appeared on her face, making her avert her eyes. While staring at the ground, she thought of all the times Shadi had been there for her with the loss of her two brothers. "I felt so alone till Shadi entered my life. If not for him, I'd have been alone and possibly forever sad after Marik and Odion left me to fulfill Marik's plans."
She slowly looked up at him with a little courage and a lot of blushing. She then noticed for the first time that his eyes had coloring in them. Since she had known him, he had always had grey eyes. Now they were different. Instead of grey, they were hazel colored. It was a beautiful color to Ishizu, one that made her feel closer to him for some reason, which made her blush even more.
After a moment, she slowly said "Shadi, what happened to your eyes?"
Shadi only smiled at this. "So, she noticed them. I guess I might as well tell her what I'm truly feeling. Now I just need to keep up my courage."
He then explained to her why his eyes were different. He told her the entire story of how Illidan had helped him regain his mortality. After an hour of listening, Shadi finally figured it was time he asked her something.
As he was about to begin, he started blushing madly, but finally said "I'm not sure how you feel about me Ishizu, but I have to be honest on how I feel about you."
Taking a deep breath, he summoned all his courage up while trying to hide the blush on his face.
At the same moment, Ishizu's heart skipped a beat when he had said he wanted to tell her his feelings. She realized during his story that she may actually have a chance at last to be with Shadi. In a way, she didn't care if he had been immortal or not, for her heart felt as if it was leading her to him either way.
With a deep blush on both of their faces, each blurted out "I love you."
Both realized they felt the same thing, and laughed at the fact that they said it simultaneously.
Staring into her blue eyes, Shadi blushed deeply but decided to be bold and took her hand in his, saying "Ishizu, I think I've loved you since I first met you, but I was too terrified to admit it to you due that I was immortal, and I didn't want to lose you one day. But now, that I can share a life with you, I want to. Will you share yours with me?"
Ishizu let out tears of happiness and nodded. She threw her arms around him, embracing him in a loving hug. He soon placed his arms around her waist, pulling her into a tighter embrace. The two's faces then inched towards one another till their lips touched, and the two kissed one another slowly. Finally, they parted and smiled at one another, both still blushing heavily.
The two then began talking about what different things, but both thanked the gods that Illidan had made this all possible by returning Shadi's mortality.