Um... this one just sorta came to me... well- I can't say CAME TO ME. To be honest- this story is based on true events... [sniffles] yes- it was a sweet love story while it lasted... and listening to a song I used to love then got me all nostalgic- and I figured it would be interesting to find out what people thought about it ^_^. Even now it brings tears to my eyes. This happened to me when I was 14... turning 15... NOT 16- but I doubt guys- especially Japanese guys- would have quinceƱieras!

This story is dedicated to... my Sentimental Graffiti boy- Jessie. Wherever you are, Jessie- our time together is always in my heart and I'll never forget you.

Disclaimer: Well- I can disclaim the characters... but a lot of what happens... happened to me. So basically- Yuugi is me in this story. ((I have no idea why I didn't go with my favorites Ryou, Bakura, OR Malik... but- they're side characters- just like I met on the cruise ^_^.)). There are a few lemon-ish... well- parts in here- THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN ((let me preserve my dignity, please!))- but they are necessary to make this more... fiction-y and everything. Yeah.

Oh- and in this chapter there is a slight tang of lime... not much- just a tad!

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/.../: Thoughts

Helplessly, Hopelessly: "Cynical Thoughts of Mine"

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As the two walked out of the airport, he could feel the hot air blast against his skin- it was humid and hot- the teen knew his hair would become flat and well... he hated to think about how frizzy it would eventually get.

/Well... it's not as hot as I thought it would be.../ The young man shifted his backpack and gripped the handle of the suitcase tighter against him. /Everyone said it could get worse.../ His light eyes shifted underneath his tinted lenses- the place was... bright. /Welcome to New Orleans, Yuugi./

"C'mon, Yuugi- this way...!" His grandfather called- all ready several feet away from him on the sidewalk- going towards a group of people Yuugi could only guess was the bunch waiting for a bus carpool. The short teen made his way to the old man and looked around- half in a daze because of his exhaustion. He knew he could have slept on the plane like Solomon had... but then again- he'd have missed the oh-so-spectacular-views.... of the clouds.

"Let me check to see where we've gotta buy the tickets, alright, Yuugi?" The old man dropped his two carry on bags and large suitcase on the pavement, leaving the teenager to stand in line behind the group. But he didn't mind- he had his headset on- it was blasting Two Mix's "Naked Dance" and he didn't have a care in the world just then. Hell- he'd gotten to skip the entire first week of his junior year and let vacation linger a little longer...

"Yuugi- are you ready to go?" The old man had come back and was picking up his excessive luggage. Did that old man have to carry all those things around? Half the stuff he'd never even use!

"Alright, people- c'mon- c'mon!" A tall black man had started shouting, motioning for the recent arrivals to start handing their luggage to him and climb inside the van that had stopped there out of nowhere. Yuugi looked around awkwardly- there was so much commotion and it was making him slightly uncomfortable. "C'mon, spiky haired- kid." The man pulled away Yuugi's suitcase and shoved it among the pile of luggage in the back of the van- then he was promptly pushed inside the van.

His eyes darted back and forth- people- close- very close. /Kami-sama... this lady smells.../ He slid closer to the window he'd sat next to and waited for the entire van to become sardine-like.

"Oh- Yuugi. Here!" Solomon turned in his seat in front of the teen and handed him a bottle of aspirin. "You said you had a headache." Yuugi looked down at the bottle and could feel eyes from the smelly woman on him.

"Uh... that's alright, Grandpa... That was two hours ago... it's not bad anymore..." He handed the bottle back and Suguru smiled contently as he turned around again in his seat.

/Asshole.../ Yuugi rolled his eyes and looked out the window. Cars everywhere- people everywhere. It was making him Closter phobic. /And damn it, this woman smells like eggs.../

The van took off without warning and soon they were on the road towards the city. What he saw on the way there made him slightly uncomfortable. /Why do they put the damn airport near the bad side of town- they want to give tourists a bad impression of this place or something?/ He frowned- not only was the air conditioning too cold, it was blowing the air from the smelly woman towards him.

"Oh look, Yuugi- look at that!" Solomon suddenly piped up and motioned outside at the small skyscraper their passed as they arrived in the city.

/Yeah, Gramps, that's great.../ His thoughts were sarcastic but he nonetheless smiled and nodded. "Yeah- it looks cool, Grandpa."

"Ah- look at that, too, Yuugi!" They were passing a building of green tinted glass and Yuugi couldn't avoid the rolling of his eyes.

"Uh huh... I always liked green tinted glass."

"And that!"

/Damn it, old man- SHUT UP!/ "Oh wow..."

After a half hour trip, the van was almost completely empty- and it finally stopped amongst the crowded streets. "Here ya go!" The driver called as he stepped out of the vehicle and walked around to the back to carry out the luggage. Yuugi stepped out slowly as well- thankful for the ability to stretch- even if he was in the middle of the road- and people were waiting to pass them still. But the driver didn't seem to notice; he carried their luggage to the front of the hotel, took his tip, and drove away at his leisurely pace.

"Here we go, Yuugi- let's go." The old man gave Yuugi his suitcase and they made their way into the hotel.

~*~*~

/Sexual tension- is that what they call it?/ Yuugi rolled onto his side and starred at the wall, his small form shivering lightly in the dark room. Solomon snored loudly in the next bed and it had kept him awake- and now he was running topics in his mind. He was... well... how could a teenager put it frankly? He was horny- for some odd reason or other.

/Maybe it's the heat./ The teenager frowned, trying to make out the patterns of spackle on the barren wall. /Yeah- it's the heat. I didn't drink that much water today.../ The fact was that he usually succeeded in willing away those feelings, but this time it was unavoidable and was getting him slightly worried. /Aw well- whatever.../ A slender hand slipped into his pajama bottoms and began a slow and torturous stroking.

/It's alright to masturbate in the same room that well... your grandfather is sleeping in, right? I mean- while he's only 10 feet away.../ Images flickered in his mind- something to concentrate on... anything- then the image of a skater he'd seen that afternoon came to mind. Dark blue spiky hair, tanned chest- firm muscles... [1]

The fingers inside his boxers stroked faster and harder- it was uncontrollable. The way that guy had looked at him- only for a few seconds- but it was a small teasing smile. Yuugi bit his bottom lip, closing his eyes tightly. /Damn he had a fine ass.../ His mouth opened slightly- emitting a small gasp of pleasure. /Urusai, Yuugi..../ A smile was forming on his lips- the feeling washing through him was intoxication- asking for more. /He'll hear you.../

Solomon snorted and rolled over- he was facing Yuugi's bed- but was still sound asleep. But at this, Yuugi froze his moments and fright shook through him. /What if he hears me?/ He began to shiver in fear- hand moving away from the burning sensation that was pleading it's release. /Damn it... what's wrong with me?!/ He slipped his hand from his pants and held it to his chest- eyes wide. /Stop it... don't... don't think about things like that anymore... It's wrong.../

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Yuugi was sick and tired of everything. His patience had gone hours before and now Solomon had gotten him angry beyond belief. /If only I had come here with my friends- this would have been awesome.../ He looked lazily out the tour bus window and frowned.

The day had been one of the worst in his life. Well- it had started out fine... go to Bourbon Street and look around- buy souvenirs and see strange things. But then Grandpa's feet started to hurt. He was tired. They had to walk back.

/Damn it... this is going to be so boring with him around!/ He clenched his small fist as his other hand ran through his tri-colored locks. The entire trip had been Solomon's idea in the first place. Go on a week long cruise to celebrate Yuugi's birthday... go from New Orleans to the Cayman Islands, to Jamaica, to Yucatan and back to New Orleans. A perfect trip. Except that it would be with an extremely old man who really had no concept to what a teenager would want. So instead of doing something fun... they had gone on tours. Endless tours of the city that were starting to become extremely boring.

/This is bullshit.../ The teenager sighed and starred out at the crowded French Quarter they were passing.

"Because in the years these buildings were constructed, it was unknown about the necessary foundations that had to be cement. Now the buildings are sinking..."

Yuugi turned up the volume on his headphones and sighed. /This is gonna be a long ass week.../ He glanced to his right where Solomon sat contently, snapping pictures of the waterfront. /I hate you.../

He looked out the window once again; the tour bus was ending its route and was finding it somewhat difficult to get into the parking lot where they'd started because of the crowds. /Damn it... hurry the hell up!/ Yuugi's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the bus driver, then they immediately became wide as he looked back at the crowd. There were couples everywhere, holding hands- and they were gay couples at that.

People walking around with hands in their back pockets, arms around their shoulders, hugging from behind. And the teen immediately became jealous. Not only where those people happy with their present situation, but they were happy with who they were with. Unknowingly his eyes followed a single couple who had stopped walking and were standing on the sidewalk kissing. They didn't care about the melting ice cream cones they held in their hands- nor about the people walking quickly around them. They were just there, standing on the sidewalk, lost in their own little world, sharing a deep kiss.

Yuugi didn't know what to think; what exactly was he jealous about? Before he could mentally argue about it, the bus had made its way into the parking lot and the couple was out of sight.

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[1] Yeah- it was a weak description -_-. It's Mako Tsunami. I dunno- he can be cute when he wants!

This chapter is sorta short to me... but I had to end it here so I could make everything fit ^_^. The "events" in this chapter happened over the course of 2 days, but there was too much BS involved so narrowing it down to seem like maybe... would be a lot more convenient. And no- I don't hate my grandfather, it's just that when you're kind of anxious to do something other than go on tours all day, you get a little irritated, ya know?

No update till I get 5 reviews!

NEXT CHAPTER: Yuugi finally gets on the cruise ship- and who are those guys who keep starring at him?