On the way to the guest house was slow. Everyone seemed to be getting along fine. Atem did not let go of my hand but the more we got there the worse my anxiety got. I kept telling myself it will all be ok but there was still worry. Grandma noticed but didn't say a whole lot.

"So how did you meet?" Grandma finally asked

"At a bar, she was working as a bartender and I have some power over in the area so I was able to get her on a break." Atem said "Power?" Grandma asked "I'm very well connected, to the point Britt doesn't have to worry about much." Atem said

So he's not going to mention he's a Mafia leader. I thought

When we arrived at the hotel for Tanya and her mother, for a few moments I considered going out. The idea of facing my grandfather bugged me even with Atem here beside me. I needed to be careful no matter where I was.

"Come by soon." Tanya said "I will" I assured her

When we were on the way again I noticed my grandma was doing some thinking. She didn't ask any questions and when we arrived at the mansion my grandfather owned I took a deep breath. Atem tightened his grip on my hand and I looked at him but didn't say anything.

When we got out of the limo there was so much to be done, Atem got out beside me and we moved out of the way. I let Atem's hand go and helped my grandmother out of the limo.

"Thank you Britt." Grandma said

"You're welcome Grandma." I said

Bre and Nana came running from the horse stables and before I could do much else they tackled me as I let my grandmother go. I laughed seeing their smiling faces forgetting that Atem and his group was there too. When my eyes opened and I saw him staring at me and my sisters I stopped.

Bre and Nana got off of me and I got up getting the dust off of me. I was used to this sort of thing and after all I was trying to make a living to bring my sisters with me.

"You came back from Japan." Bre said

"Temporary. My attendance is required." I said

"Well that's true." Nana said then they looked past me at Atem and his group "Is that your boyfriend?" "Sort of" I said

Nana didn't seem to know how tot are my words, after all her big sister didn't date. I was hiding the fact he was Mafia anything while in here. Talking to my sisters was great though and I was relaxed until he came out. Grandfather always wanted to control me and he knew he couldn't.

"Well you return." Grandfather said

"I'm not staying. Just here for the tournament then going right back." I said

"I don't think so Britt. You ran off once, you won't be leaving again." Grandfather said

"Actually" Atem said as he came over by me and put his arm around me "She will be going back to Japan, she'll be leaving with me." "And you are?" Grandfather asked

"Atem Sehkret. My family is from Egypt and I support a woman looking to achieve her dreams." Atem said

If there was a knife I could slice the tension in the room with it. No one could deny that there was big tension in the area and we'd just gotten here. Atem must have sensed that grandfather wouldn't back down cause he turned me around and had his friends get my luggage. "I think a hotel might be best." Atem said and he looked back at my grandfather "the air here isn't wise to be around." "Who do you think you are?!" Grandfather asked

"I want what is best for your granddaughter, it's not here." Atem said

Before I could say anything he had his phone out and called someone he knew. His normal behavior with his mafia front showing as he was talking to the person. Then he hung up and sighed looking at me.

"It'll be an hour before we can get anywhere." Atem said

"Let's call a truce and go inside." Grandma said

Atem agreed as he kept me close going inside, I was just going to go across the way to see my parents but that would wait. Grandfather made this uncomfortable. Grandma did her best to lighten the mood but when Bre and Nana said my horse missed me. I purposely slipped out of his grip and went to the stables as I walked for a bit before seeing my black stallion.

Is it even safe for him to be alone with grandfather? I thought

Atem's pov:

"Well you return." Her Grandfather said

"I'm not staying. Just here for the tournament then going right back." Britt said

"I don't think so Britt. You ran off once, you won't be leaving again." Her Grandfather said

"Actually" I said as I came over by her and put my arm around Britt "She will be going back to Japan, she'll be leaving with me." "And you are?" Her Grandfather asked

"Atem Sehkret. My family is from Egypt and I support a woman looking to achieve her dreams." I said

Putting a face to a name helped me figure out who Britt was avoiding. Looking at this man I could tell that he wasn't going to let her just leave Egypt. I felt that if Britt stayed here during the tournament bad things would happen. I sensed that her grandfather wouldn't back down so I turned Britt around and had Joey grab her suitcase. "I think a hotel might be best." I said as I looked back at her grandfather daring him to object. "the air here isn't wise to be around." "Who do you think you are?!" Grandfather asked

"I want what is best for your granddaughter, it's not here." I said

I had a few contacts in Egypt who could set me up with a couple rooms and pick us up from here. I didn't want to be rude to the grandmother who had been nothing but nice. As I called I talked to the person on the phone. They were quick to fix me up with a few rooms for my group and I insisted they were the best rooms they had. Transportation was what was going to be a bit and I sighed.

"It'll be an hour before we can get anywhere." I said

"Let's call a truce and go inside." Her Grandma said

I agreed as I kept Britt close going inside her grandparents place. Britt was uncomfortable it was clear as day on her face and I noticed she looked over at a house. I wondered what was over there but I figured she would tell me in time. Being respectful to the grandmother was the only thing keeping me from going off on her grandfather. Her sisters mentioned about a horse that missed her so I let go so she could go with them leaving me and my group alone with her grandparents. The Grandmother seemed to follow the three outside which was good for me.

"So what do you do in Japan?" He asked "And where are my manners I-"

"Maahes Petrova." I said

"You know of me?" Maahes asked

"Let me break this to you easily, I am from Egypt but I control the Mafia in Japan. Your granddaughter is under my protection and I seek to take her hand in marriage under her own choices." I said "So when I say this isn't the place for her to stay I mean it. She doesn't like you, she wants her sisters and to stay as far away from you as possible."

Yugi and my friends seemed shocked I dropped my cover so easily but this man was the reason Britt walked into my life. Even if she didn't know but that day she worked in the bar had left an impression.

"She needs a man who can provide for her." Maahes said "I assure you I am more than capable but she has other thoughts. She wants to make her own money and show she can do it on her own." I said

"She is her mother's daughter." Maahes said "Her parents live next door."

That's why she looked over there, she wants to see them. I thought

"I see." Atem said

When I couldn't stand to be in this mans presence any longer I got up and the group followed. Walking out we saw the girls getting the horses out. I was curious so I walked over to them wondering where they were going.

"Where are you all going?" I asked

Britt's pov:

"Where are you all going?" Atem asked

I looked seeing he was actually intereste in what was going on. I knew that Heb needed to get out as I thought for a minute before switching the saddle and got a two seater saddle. After securing it I was able to put my foot in the foot holder and got up on the saddle.

"We're going to the hang out. Want to come?" I asked

"Sure." Atem said

I put my hand out and he walked over taking my hand and then helped him up on Heb. Heb looked back and I pet him to assure him it was ok. Bre and Nana got some of the extra horses and instructed them the best way to ride.

"Alright, let's go." I said

I had heb head out in a run and felt the wind in my hair. I felt Atem move to where his arms were secure around my waist and my hair wasn't going to be in his face. I was at peace even with him so close.

"You seem to know what you're doing." Atem said "I used to have these rides all the time." I said

"So you know exactly where you're going." Atem said "I do." I said

When we arrived to the place I was about to get down first when I saw Atem get down first. He helped me down and I led Heb over to the horses area. I let him loose to frolic with the other horses and then my sisters were able to do the same thing.

Once inside I got some soda for everyone and it wasn't like ten minutes later that I was surrounded. Half of them were my friends and the other Half my competition at the tournament. Dante and David friends of mine got infront of me before Atem could and backed up the competition.

"Let me have a chance to duel the champ." Some of them said "You can when the tournament happens." They said

After the half that wanted to duel me went away we all sat at a table. Popularity wasn't my thing now and wasn't my thing in school.

"You seem the talk of the talk." Atem said

"Sort of." I said

"Is sort of your choice of words a lot?" Atem asked

"Uh yeah." I admitted

Kayla a friend of mine was on stage and was announcing a big party coming up. I knew that meant one thing the trip here was going to be more than I ever expected.