Title: Control

By: KuroSakura-chan

Summary: Ryou and the others thought it was bad when the Shadows dropped them into Middle Earth. But when Bakura's kleptomania acts up, and he steals the One Ring, things get decidedly worse.

Category: Lord of the Rings/Yu-Gi-Oh!

Genre: Angst, Drama, Romance

Couples: Seto/Bakura, Seto/Yami, Marik/Ryou, Malik/Otogi, ?/Bakura,

Warning: Swearing, Yaoi,

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, nor do I own Lord of the Rings, though I own several copies of each book, have read them all, have seen all the movies, have several Legolas posters, and generally am an all-around nerd when it comes to it.

A/N: So you all are aware, Control is a fic that I have to write out completely before it gets posted. Thus, it might take awhile, as I am notorious for not being able to spend more than an hour working on one thing, and thus, I switch. Please understand.

…

-Aragorn-

Strider.

That's what they call me in Bree. I can't complain as I'm the one who gave them the name of Strider to use for me.

Though something tells me that telling this...wraith-like man that my name is Strider will not go over well. I'm not even sure as to why the man seems so important, but he does.

So when whatever he's wearing around his neck shines at the exact moment "Mr. Underhill" vanishes, I clap, as though it was just a great show, even though the man's companions look greatly surprised. The man himself doesn't, but I haven't seen his expression change from sullen throughout the night. Definitely not the type to let anyone know what he's thinking by his expression.

So focused on saving this wraith-like one from scrutiny, I almost jump when something backs into my legs. Schooling my expression to one of boredom, I reach down and drag "Underhill" up to sit beside me. I can't seem to make myself look away from the wraith, though, so I begin speaking to the hobbit without looking at him. "Well? Why did you do that? Worse than anything your friends could have said! You have put your foot in it! Or should I say your finger?"

I hear him open his mouth to respond, but the wraith is moving. He has picked up his ale and slipped from his seat, making his way to me. His crimson eyes are trained on me, and he sits without asking if his presence was desired. Not that I think I could tell him no without a reason he would accept. And I honestly doubt I could find a reason he would accept.

"So, care to explain what just happened? Or will I get a better answer as to why you've been staring at me?" He demands, taking a drink of his ale without removing his eyes from me. It is almost like he can see past all of my lies and other precautions. His tone is bitter, and I find there is one part of the ways he expresses himself that he cannot control. I simply need to listen.

"Underhill" bristles beside me, opening his mouth to respond, again. Unwilling to let him drive the wraith away, I beat him to speaking. "It is customary to introduce oneself and ask before simply joining another's table."

The wraith snorts. "Where I come from, it's customary to buy a drink for someone before staring at them so lustfully." I cannot help but color at the insinuation in his statement. "You can call me Bakura." He adds before I can respond, and I take a moment to think over the given name. To be honest, it feels as though he is giving his true name.

"Strider," I tell him. "and this is-"

"Underhill." The hobbit cuts in. He's apparently annoyed with being ignored.

Bakura's eyes shift from me to the hobbit. I feel both relieved and upset about no longer being the object of his attention. That gaze sees far more than it should. "Underhill" quivers under it before the red eyes are focused on me again. "I suppose that getting your real name would be too easy. Really, though, I feel insulted."

I honestly have no idea as how to respond to that. There is a darkness in his tone that makes me think the playful nature of the comment is untrue. Like he truly is insulted. And if he is, I have no idea as to how to fix it.

"Why don't you explain that light thing you did?" "Underhill," who is only further proving that he is Frodo Baggins by his attitude, demands.

Bakura turns to look at him again and smirks as he quails under the intense red gaze. "It was simply making sure I didn't miss your little stunt with that ring of yours."

I can feel the blood freeze in my veins. Bakura was not sent by Gandalf. He couldn't have been. Gandalf would have warned me. But...how does he know about the One Ring? Something about this whole situation is off...Like I'm missing several large pieces. Especially because Bakura doesn't feel tainted like servants of Mordor usually do.

Getting annoyed with our lack of responses, he rolls his eyes. He tips the last of his ale into his mouth and glances behind him, where a brunette, who I saw enter with Bakura, is approaching. Cursing, Bakura is out of his seat and the room without anything further. The brunette growls and follows after Bakura. Interesting...

Frodo stares after Bakura and the brunette, as does Bakura's companions. "What...was that?" He asks.

"That, Frodo Baggins, was a possible friend. Now go, wait in your room with your friends. We do not want anyone to take note of our association." The first part of my comment was only a guess. There is no way for me to truly know Bakura's intentions yet. Until I know him, I cannot know what he will do.

Frodo pales as I mention his name, and swallows. I think he wishes to ask me more, but I stand, making my way to Bakura's companions. I wish to know more about this wraith of a man, and though it shames me to admit, I wish to know more about the man who caused Bakura's sudden departure. And though I am unsure as to whether I will get the information I desire, at least my movement will make my words clear to Frodo. He will do as I have instructed.

Bakura's companions say nothing as I sit with them. I find myself unnerved as a pair of emerald eyes and a pair of lavender eyes focus on me. Why does Bakura look so different from even his companions? They all look...different, but he the most. And why can I not place their nationalities, despite having been all over Middle-Earth?

We all stay quiet, waiting for something to break the ice. Finally, the emerald-eyed one snorts and sets his chin in his hand. "Did you have something in particular you wished to as us? Or should we just ramble about Bakura for awhile?"

The lavender eyes switch from watching me to stare at the other. "You can't be serious, 'Togi. Bakura has enough on his plate with Seto and the Pharaoh!"

"Mm, but he can leave this one behind, should we find a way back."

I twitch, knowing I am part of this discussion, but being ignored. "Excuse me...How about we start with names?" I suggest. Two sets of strange colored eyes turn to focus on me, waiting. "Strider." I finally say.

The reaction is instantaneous. I cannot help but allow my forehead to meet my hand as the two fall from their seats, peals of laughter erupting from them. So much for not drawing attention to this discussion.

Lavender eyes are the first to focus on me again. As filled with mirth as they are, I can't help but feel like there is something darker in those depths. Something dangerous, warning me to be far more careful with this strange group. As though I wasn't being careful enough as it was.

"Malik." The lavender-eyed blond finally says. "My name is Malik, and this is Otogi. It is nice to meet you." Malik pulls himself back into his seat before dragging Otogi back up.

"We aren't stupid enough to believe your name is really Strider, but at least we know why 'Kura let himself be chased off by Kaiba, rather than simply use you." Otogi comments. "Besides, you probably have your reasons, yeah?"

"Of course, I do have my reasons-wait. Use me for what?" I ask, unsure of Otogi's meaning.

"To make Seto jealous, of course." Malik answers, picking up the conversation immediately. "Normally, he would never let that prick chase him off, but he probably felt insulted by your lack of honesty when he was being honest with you." Malik picks at the strange half-shirt he wears, which shares the color of his eyes, strangely, frowning.

"We should bathe, ne, Malik? I'm sure the Pharaoh and the others are finished, if Kaiba is free." Otogi leans forward, setting his chin on Malik's shoulder. It is...a rather intimate gesture, one I have not seen shared between males. Still, I find I am not disturbed by it. I can simply wonder if I will ever be able to share such with another being.

"Yeah. Let's hope Pharaoh isn't in too pissy of a mood, yes?" Malik and Otogi stand, their hands linking immediately.

I blink, jumping up to stop them from leaving. "Wait. What is between Bakura and the brunette?" I curse myself mentally. That was not how I had planned to say that.

The two look at each other and smirk before looking to me. "Love, hate. Who knows? Ra certainly knows that they don't. Why not try asking them yourself?" Malik shrugs, at least responding before he and Otogi leave.

I stay at the table for a moment before heading down the halls myself. I have a meeting with four hobbits still, after all. My personal curiosity will have to be quenched at another time. I realize that something is wrong the moment I step into the room, however. It's difficult to miss, with four panicking hobbits greeting me.

"The Ring! It's gone! We can't find it anywhere!" Frodo tells me, once I've managed to calm him to the point of understandable speech. "I had it right before that stranger sat down, and now, it's gone!"

I think back, focusing on all of Bakura's movements. I cannot think of a time where he would have been able to snatch the Ring, but... "I'll find him." I promise, leaving before he can demand to accompany me. I would rather meet with Bakura on my own.

Strangely enough, he wasn't hard to find. But before I can step into the corridor and announce my presence, he is shoved against the wall by the brunette, his hands pinned above his head. I am still unsure as to the brunette's name, though, and I determine to watch, as Malik said there was something between the two.

"You've been quite the bitch today, Bakura." The brunette growls, his ice-blue eyes glaring down at the struggling Bakura.

"Well, I'm in good company, wouldn't you agree, Seto Kaiba?" Bakura hisses, and I realize that the two people Otogi and Malik kept mentioning is actually the same man.

"I doubt it, as no one else summoned the Shadow Realm simply because they were feeling bitchy." Seto Kaiba responds. He continues, ignoring Bakura's snarl. "Where is Mokuba, Bakura? And why don't you just return us home?"

Bakura goes limp so quickly, I almost step into the hall before I realize what I am doing. "Mokuba is fine, Seto. I would never hurt the kid, nor would I allow him to be hurt." Bakura's tone is soft, submissive almost, but there is something beneath it, something hostile.

"Then just take us back. I'll ignore this, if-"

Bakura's angered hiss and knee to Seto Kaiba's groin has caught even me off-guard. "How dare you try to control me? I allow you to control me in bed, but let me teach you something. I'm no pet, nor am I a slave. You cannot control me. Nor can you control your relationship with the Pharaoh, which is why it is failing. Life is not going to bow to you, simply because you are Seto Kaiba. And even should it decide to, I never will. I will not be controlled any longer, especially not by a mere teenager who cannot see the truth in front of his face."

Seto Kaiba glares up at Bakura, who steps away from the injured male. "Maybe you'll learn to think about the lies you're being fed before demanding I bow to you. Goodbye, Seto." Bakura smirks coldly at him before holding up a small, golden ring, the Ring, and placing it on his finger, disappearing.

A/N: Yeesh, that took nine pages written out...I'm slightly bitter now...