Disclaimer/s: I still don't own Prince of Tennis or its gorgeous characters. I'm still not making profit of of this. I'm still just torturing these poor fictional characters by forcing them into this poor excuse for a romance. XD;

I still don't own Facebook.

These characters are still over 18. All of them. I promise.

Warning: Non-graphic sexy stuff (meaning "groping").

A/N: Sorry it's a wee bit later than normal. I went back over this and rewrote a few things. I also removed the very awkward lemon that I originally had at the end of this. I am unhappy with this chapter. Very, very unhappy. I hope you all enjoy it anyway. :/

Chapter four: The problem with pornography

"Do you regret it?" Tezuka's voice brought him out of his recollections.

"No. I don't regret a single moment of it."

"But you want out."

"Yes. Yuuta is safe and for that, I'm glad. But they're asking me to do things I don't want to, Tezuka." Fuji lay his head on the hand that Tezuka laid on his shoulder. He wasn't exactly sure why, but the hand was there and he craved the comfort that Tezuka was giving him.

Tezuka took his bait. "What are they asking?" His voice sounded harsher to Fuji at that moment. There was an undertone that he couldn't quite place. Anger? Fear? Jealousy? He wasn't sure. Tezuka's voice had never been very emotive and although he was very good at guessing his friend's emotions and thoughts normally, in this unfamiliar situation, he wasn't totally sure of anything.

"They've been slowly making my…material sexier. I was aware, but I didn't think they'd take it so far." Tired of dancing around the subject, Fuji put it bluntly. "They want me to do pornography."

He felt Tezuka's body stiffen next to him. He heard him clear his throat and could imagine the blush slowly creeping onto his face. Right now, he would be adjusting his glasses in order to hide it from anyone who might be looking at him. He couldn't stop the smile that crept onto his own lips. He really did enjoy watching Tezuka suffer this way. He was certainly aware of the effect he had on his friend. He'd always been. Even before Tezuka was aware of it himself.

"They want you to…?"

"Gay porn, to be precise." He heard Tezuka mutter a rude word under his breath and his smile grew. Torturing Tezuka always put him in a good mood and this time was no exception. He almost forgot the reason he'd come to Tezuka in the first place.

"Please don't use such words." The request was a soft murmur.

"Hm? I didn't catch that. I'm sorry," Fuji lied easily.

He felt Tezuka let out a long breath. "Fuji, why did you come here? I thought you were upset."

And just that fast, his good mood left. He lifted his head from Tezuka's hand and removed his own. His hands clasped together and fell into his lap. "I will not take money to have sex with strangers on camera. I won't do it."

"Is it in your contract?" Tezuka didn't remove his hand from Fuji's shoulder. Fuji wondered if he realized it was still there. 'Of course he does,' he reasoned. 'Tezuka doesn't do things senselessly.'

"No, nothing like that was in there when I signed it. I read through it."

"They can't force you, then."

"Tezuka, I'm being forced through Yuuta. They're not using the contract." He brought his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on the tops. It was an unusual position for him, but then, he was in an unusual mood.

"Is he willing to go public?"

"Right, they wouldn't have blackmail that way." He sighed. He'd considered it, of course. "Yuuta doesn't know I took his place. And before you suggest it," he started hurriedly after he saw Tezuka's mouth open again, "no, I won't ask him to do that for me. It would defeat the purpose. I started this to keep him from having to do it. It was me they wanted in the first place. It's my fault he was…." He trailed off.

"But is he willing to go public? It's not about what you want for him. It's about what he wants for himself."

Fuji shook his head. "Our parents would be angry."

"You're irrational. Your parents are very supportive."

Fuji laid his right cheek on his knee so he could look at Tezuka. His eyes searched the so-serious face for something he was unsure of. He wondered randomly when the last time Tezuka laughed was. 'Probably sometime last year, knowing Tezuka.'

"They set him up with his girlfriend."

"From what I understood, they didn't know he was gay."

"Yuuta isn't gay," he drew out languidly. "He likes women. He just happens to be in love with a man, that's all."

"Mm." Tezuka made a noise that could have meant nearly anything.

"I, on the other hand, am gay." He watched with amusement as Tezuka struggled to keep his face blank. He was always amazed with Tezuka's ability to keep the same expression no matter what was happening in the room. He also always enjoyed tearing down that same expression and seeing what was underneath. "I'll talk to Yuuta. Maybe you're right. If he announces his relationship with Mizuki and admits what happened to his girlfriend, they won't be able to blackmail Yuuta anymore."

Obviously glad to be back on topic, Tezuka nodded. "You still have a contract with them," he pointed out.

"Which they'll have to abide by until my time with the company runs out at the end of the year."

"You want to stay with the company?" Fuji caught surprise in Tezuka's voice.

"Mm. I thought I would hate it, but as long as I'm not being forced into anything too…compromising, I don't mind it. I actually started enjoying it as you saw in the pictures on my Facebook."

He watched as Tezuka caught himself. He almost looked away in shame, but he managed to hold Fuji's gaze. "I only saw one."

"Which?" He smiled brightly when Tezuka's eyes fluttered shut. A frown appeared on the man's forehead.

"Ice cream," he said simply.

"That doesn't help me, Tezuka. I have five pictures with ice cream."

"Five…!" His eyes shot open. He quickly composed himself and let out an annoyed sigh. "You were licking it."

"Mm," Fuji hummed knowingly. "The one where it's dripping slowly down my fingers and I'm staring at the camera? The close-up? That's one of my favorites."

Tezuka's hand convulsed around his shoulder at the description. "Yes." He directed his gaze away from Fuji. "What are you going to tell your brother?"

"The truth." He tilted his head so that his lips were close to Tezuka's hand and whispered the words across Tezuka's fingers. He was tired of being upset. He wanted to be happy again and teasing Tezuka would get him there. Fuji mused that he should probably be considering the state of his mental health right about now, but he waved those thoughts away.

Tezuka jerked his hand away from Fuji in an instant, his eyes wide with some emotion. He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. His hand landed in his own lap.

"Don't you always say 'the truth will set you free'? I think that's my only option right now. I'll take this one step at a time."

Tezuka nodded, his composure restored. Fuji wondered what sorts of thoughts Tezuka focused on to clear his head. Tennis, maybe?

"Say, Tezuka, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?" His words were an echo of Tezuka's from last night. The wild change in topic made Tezuka blink rapidly and Fuji smiled when he pondered the images that just flashed through Tezuka's mind.

He really didn't do this out of cruelty alone. Originally, he just enjoyed seeing Tezuka react, but at some point over the years, he had grown to like Tezuka as something more. He was dependable, honest. Moreover, he was someone to confide in and get advice from. Sometimes, he entertained the thought of the two of them as a couple, but up until recently, he was positive that Tezuka had no interest in pursuing a relationship with anyone.

"Green tea," Tezuka answered without looking him in the eye.

"How traditional," Fuji commented, smiling.

"Mm." Tezuka met his eyes now, hazel searching blue. He wanted to ask something, Fuji could figure that much.

"Do you want to kiss me?" Much to Fuji's dismay, Tezuka didn't sputter this time; nor did he choke, or blush profusely and excuse himself. No, he simply stared at the old friend in front of him before leaning in and gently grazing his lips with his own.

Fuji froze. He certainly hadn't expected that reaction. He was supposed to be the one surprising things out of Tezuka, not the other way around! He was supposed to be the one teasing!

As if hearing Fuji's thoughts, Tezuka caught his gaze and scolded mildly, "Don't tease me."

Fuji opened his mouth to protest, to argue, to do something, but Tezuka stopped him with a firm "no."

"You tease, Fuji. I don't know what goes on in that head sometimes, but I wish I did." His voice held a hint of sadness. "I don't want to be played with. I'm not your toy."

It was practically a speech for the other man and Fuji was rendered unable to respond for a few moments. "You're not my toy," he finally replied with. "I'm not playing with you. Not anymore. …Not always," he regretfully admitted the last.

"Then what are you doing?"

"I don't know." He didn't want to say the words on the tip of his tongue.

"Fuji," Tezuka scolded him again, firmer this time. Fuji knew that he wanted the truth.

"Honestly? I was distracting myself."

Tezuka nodded as if he'd expected the words. "But you're not playing with me? I'm not your toy?" His tone wasn't angry or accusatory. He was asking honest questions.

"No. You like honesty, so I'll use it here. I enjoy being with you, Tezuka. I enjoy talking to you and studying with you. I enjoy coming to you with my problems; you're the only one who hears them. It's not just toying anymore. I'm not sure when it changed or what, exactly, changed, but it's not the same."

Tezuka nodded again. "We're not ready for this, Fuji."

Fuji knew this, naturally. The words still stung a bit hearing them so honestly spoken.

"Fix things with your brother. I'll be here." He heard the words that Tezuka had not spoken. He always had. 'You know where to find me,' they said. 'I'll always be here,' they said.

…'I'll wait,' they said.

"I'm counting on it," he whispered. He stopped himself from leaning in and stealing another kiss. It wouldn't be right. It took a lot for Tezuka to admit what he hadn't needed to say. The timing was wrong for it, but he still wanted something with Fuji. Not just that, but he was willing to wait for that something. He couldn't take advantage of this.

Tezuka stood and offered Fuji his hand which he gladly took. Tezuka pretended to look at the books on the shelf behind them and Fuji smiled. The taller man was blushing again. He really was obvious about it.

"I'm walking over to Yuuta's dorm now."

"Should I…?" He didn't finish, but he didn't have to.

"No, it's fine." He smiled at the back of the other man's head. "Bye, Tezuka."

"Mm. Take care, Fuji."

Fuji nodded, though the other man couldn't see it. He gathered his nerve and began the long walk toward the start of reassigning his path in life.

oXo

"I already told mom" was what greeted him when he was allowed into his younger brother's dorm room.

"Ah." Surprised, Fuji wasn't sure what else to say. He glanced up at the curly-haired brunet lying on Yuuta's bed.

"I knew you were going to do something stupid, but I didn't think you were going to take my place. You know…older people are supposed to be smart and mature, but you're an awfully big idiot sometimes. You always want to do everything yourself."

Being lectured by his younger brother was bad enough, but having Mizuki nod his agreement and smirk knowingly down at Fuji was too much. "Excuse me for trying to help." His tone was even and carefully spoken.

"Don't get angry, aniki. I'm just saying."

"Mm. Have you told your girlfriend? What did mother say?"

Yuuta sighed and sat in his desk chair. Fuji took the desk chair of Yuuta's nameless roommate in an echo of a previous time. "I haven't told her yet, but Mom was fine with it. She cried and hugged me and apologized all over the place for 'not seeing it sooner.'"

Fuji chuckled, his anger lost. "That sounds like her."

"Yeah. Dad was surprised when she told him, but from what she told me, he was cool with it, I guess. It's kind-of a relief for someone else to know. You know?"

Remembering how it felt when he came out to his parents, Fuji nodded. "I made a mistake. You're right."

Yuuta sat up straighter, looking surprised. "What?"

"You're right. I shouldn't have tried to fix it on my own. I should have stopped it right there. That man had no right to blackmail us into working for him." Fuji smiled. "But still, I'm surprised that you would take the initiative and come clean."

Yuuta shrugged and looked embarrassed. "It's the right thing to do. I'm not gonna make people suffer to cover up what I did. That's not fair."

Mizuki made a sound above them. "So ethical, Yuuta."

"He's my brother," Fuji explained without looking toward the source of the voice.

"I have to call her tonight and tell her. I'm not looking forward to that."

"I'll tell her," Mizuki offered cheerily.

"No, Mizuki-san. I have to be the one to do it. I'm the one that caused this mess. It's my fault everyone's in trouble. I have to fix it."

Fuji shook his head, guilt rising up in him. Yuuta had to know the truth. "No, Yuuta, that's not right. They came after you because I turned them down. This is my fault. I apologize for troubling you."

"But I had an affair and gave them something to blackmail me—and you—with!" His voice was suddenly loud, argumentative. Fuji was unsure why Yuuta wanted to take the blame for this so badly, but it wasn't his fault.

"If it wasn't the affair, then it would've been something else. If it wasn't you, then it would have been someone. They wanted me to sign with them. They were going to get it one way or the other," Fuji argued his point calmly—not always an easy thing with his younger brother's temper.

Deflated, Yuuta gave in. "You're not going to keep working for them, are you?"

"I'm obligated. I signed a year-long contract with them."

"Why only a year?" Mizuki asked suddenly.

Fuji ignored the question and interrogated Yuuta. "How did you know that I took your place?"

Yuuta's face flushed and he turned away. "I just knew."

Fuji smiled. "Hm? You what? That doesn't sound plausible."

"I just knew, okay!" Yuuta leapt from his seat and yelled, his face a bright red. "I know you. I knew you would do something idiotic like try to protect me or whatever, so I called the place. Okay? Geez." He flopped onto the chair in a huff.

Fuji's smile widened. "Oh? You must know your older brother well then, hm?" He ignored the annoyed sounds coming from the bed above Yuuta.

"Don't turn it into something it's not." His attitude wasn't very convincing.

"Why was the contract only for one year?" Mizuki tried again.

"It's the only length I'd agree to." Fuji spared a glance up at the bed and saw Mizuki's surprise at his answer. He suspected it was surprise at the fact that he answered him more than surprise at the answer itself.

"So you're really going to keep working for them? They told me what they wanted you to do. They bragged about it! How could you agree to that?"

"I don't agree with it!" Fuji quickly amended his outburst with a smile. "It's not in the contract, Yuuta. They can't make me do it without blackmail and I'll take them to court if they happen to try this again. I have proof now, witnesses. I don't want to take it that far. I want to get this sorted out without legal help, but if it comes to that, I'll do it."

Yuuta nodded slowly. "Fine." After a long moment of silence, he continued, "Is that all you came over for?"

"Of course not," Fuji laughed. "I like to check in on my cute little brother sometimes, too."

"Arg!" Yuuta growled in frustration. "Why can't we ever have a normal conversation?"

Still laughing, Fuji only shook his head in response.

"Ugh. I'm going to call my girlfriend now. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know what happened, okay?"

"Call me tonight before bed. I like hearing your voice before I sleep. It reminds me of being back home." Fuji smiled as Yuuta nearly fell out of his seat.

"Stop saying things like that! Besides, I'm going to be…busy tonight." He averted his eyes from his older brother's.

"'Busy'?" Fuji repeated in question.

"Yes," Mizuki confirmed. "He's going to be busy tonight. If you know what I mean."

"Mizuki-san!" Yuuta protested, sounding horrified,

"Hm. I'll be leaving now. Call me tomorrow, Yuuta." He smiled and waved to the room before taking his leave.

oXo

Fuji was on the phone when Tezuka entered their room.

"I regret to inform you that your blackmailing scheme has failed."

Tezuka set his backpack in its usual corner and sat opposite Fuji. He watched Fuji listen to words inaudible to him.

"Yes, that's right." He nodded. "My brother has informed everyone close to us about his affair." He smiled at something and chuckled in a low, condescending tone. "I wouldn't dream of it. I plan to hold up my end of the contract. I will work for you as a model until my year is up." He put extra emphasis on the word. "But I refuse to be anyone's whore."

Tezuka reached out and placed a hand on Fuji's knee in a silent reminder to stay tactful. A mouthed "thank you" was his only proof that Fuji knew he had done it.

"Hello?" Fuji gave a confused look at the cell phone in his hand. To Tezuka, he said, "he hung up."

Tezuka raised an eyebrow. "What did he say?"

Fuji flipped his phone shut and slid it into his pocket. "He asked if I was going to honor our contract. That was the only thing of significance."

"That doesn't sound good."

"I didn't think so either. I've got to make a couple of private calls. I'll be back." He stood, causing Tezuka's hand to drop from its place and walked through their door without another word.

Tezuka was frustrated. He didn't know what he could do to help his…friend? He suddenly found himself questioning the word. Was Fuji still his friend? He didn't know. He didn't know what their relationship was now. They had a mutual attraction to one another and they had kissed, so maybe that makes them more…? He shook his head. Regardless, now was not the time to be thinking about these things.

He opened up a browser window on his computer and entered in a name, from memory, into the search box when Facebook came up. He immediately found who he was looking for: Sato Kinichi. 'Still no picture.'

He sighed in frustration when he saw the other man wasn't online. He then typed in Fuji's name and scrolled through Fuji's friends in search of another name he'd remembered. 'Yoshiko, Yuna, Yusuke.' It didn't take him long to find the other man. The next name was Yuuta's; this had to be him. Tezuka felt the faintest twitching of a smile when he saw that Yusuke was online.

He sent him a message and got one in return not long after.

Tezuka, I'm aware of who you are. I'm also aware that it was you the other night and not Fuji. Please don't try to mislead me anymore.

You want information, correct? I'm sure by now Fuji has broken and told you what he does and what he's being forced into. I'm his co-worker of sorts. I'm a fellow model at the same agency. Kinichi, too. And, yes, we've all been forced here by various things that we don't want to come out.

That last didn't surprise Tezuka nearly as much as it should have. He questioned whether Fuji was aware that he wasn't the only person blackmailed into being there. If the three of them were being forced, then perhaps there were more. Maybe they could all work together and accomplish something.

Tezuka shook his head. Honestly, for him to think such things…. He wasn't a child anymore. He had no illusions about the world. He'd grown too cynical to think that way now.

'Yusuke….' The name rolled around his mind. There was something about it. There was something about the man's personality. The way that he held himself and the sweet-yet-patronizing tone both rang with familiarity. He'd had the same thought when he last had a conversation with Yusuke, but he hadn't been able to figure out where he knew him from.

"Yusuke, Yusuke, Yusuke," he said the name out loud in repetition, hoping it would trigger something. "Yu…Yu…."

A figurative lightbulb clicked on in his head. "Yukimura!" Yes, somehow that made perfect sense.

If "Yusuke" was Yukimura, then "Kinichi" was probably Kirihara. He nodded to himself. He couldn't be sure without asking, but the personalities sure fit.

The door opened behind him before he could reply to the message. He turned his head to give Fuji a welcoming nod. "Did you know that Yukimura and Kirihara are also being blackmailed?"

Fuji's eyes opened in surprise. That reaction alone told Tezuka that his deductions were correct. "Ah. You figured it out. I did say they should pick less obvious codenames." He smiled. "I know, but I only recently found out. How did you…ah." He took notice of the open message on Tezuka's computer screen.

Tezuka would have asked him who he called, but that would have been be too prying. He also would have asked how it went with his brother, but from what Fuji said on the phone, it went well. Unless, of course, Fuji was lying, but that wasn't likely. For not the first time in his life, Tezuka was at a loss for words.

"Mizuki was over at Yuuta's." Fuji stated as he unbuttoned his jacket. He hung the dark brown piece of clothing on one of the hooks on the wall and walked to the set of drawers on Tezuka's side of the room. They still hadn't reorganized their clothing.

"You're calling him by name?" Tezuka was glad for the change in topic.

Fuji froze momentarily. "Yes, I suppose so."

"What changed?" Tezuka watched Fuji's hands sift through articles of clothing until he apparently found what he was looking for: a pair of beige pajama pants.

Fuji never had any qualms about changing in front of Tezuka and now was no exception. He unfastened his pants and let them drop without so much as a warning. Tezuka, though, turned his head from the sight. He couldn't watch Fuji strip; not when maddening visions of running his hands over Fuji's body and the memory of their first kiss occupying his thoughts. He cleared his throat loudly and watched his screen saver while he attempted to get his head back where it should be.

"Hm," Fuji considered. Tezuka could hear another piece of clothing drop to the floor and another drawer opening. "A lot has changed lately. Hasn't it?"

It wasn't an answer as much as it was an evasion and Tezuka thought for a moment before answering. Yes, a lot of things had changed. Or, more accurately, a lot has been discovered lately and a lot has happened as a result. "Yes, a lot is different," he finally agreed.

"I'm decent. You can look now." His smile was obvious in his voice; he was mocking Tezuka again.

"Mm." He made a grateful sound as he turned. "That's…." Whatever he was going to say quickly jumped ship to make way for a "that's not what you normally wear to bed."

He turned back to his desk and pretended to reach for a book to hide the heat creeping into his face. Fuji was quite a modest person. He didn't mind changing in front of men, Tezuka knew, because they'd done it all their lives in their many clubs' changing rooms. He was, however, very conservative with his dress. He never showed more skin than was necessary. He always wore a long-sleeved button-down pajama top with his full length pajama bottoms. Tonight, however, he'd opted for no shirt at all.

An utterly devious laugh escaped him and Tezuka wondered if Fuji had been around Mizuki too often lately. "Does my attire bother you, Tezuka? You've seen me in less."

'And I'd thank you not to remind me of that at this moment,' he thought.

"Have you started on Professor Yamada's project?" he evaded conspicuously.

"If it bothers you, I'll put a shirt on." Fuji reached down and grabbed the book that Tezuka had finally "decided" on. Hazel eyes followed the long line of pale flesh that reached in front of him. A long blink brought him back to reality.

"You should start on it if you haven't. The required research is extensive." He reached for another book while Fuji flipped through the pilfered one.

"I thought that since we're both men, you wouldn't mind. It's a bit stuffy in here tonight, isn't it?" A light chuckle made Tezuka's cheeks burn. He stalled his "search" and went back to his computer to dawdle on Facebook.

"It will take time to gather all of your materials." Tezuka's attempt at steering the conversation away from Fuji's flirting was having absolutely no effect. Inwardly, Tezuka sighed. He didn't know whether Fuji was serious in what he was doing right now or whether he was just teasing Tezuka to boost his own mood. The list of things that lifted Fuji's spirits would make a psychologist consult a few manuals.

He was made aware of a presence behind him when a pair of lips lightly grazed the back of his ear. He visibly stiffened. Since when was Fuji this bold? "Tell me it bothers you."

Tezuka swallowed hard. He couldn't stop the fact that his heart rate picked up at that touch or the fact that his lungs took in air faster than normal at those words, but he'd be damned if he couldn't keep his face from showing that it affected him!

"I don't know what you want."

"I want you…," he whispered against Tezuka's cartilage, "to tell me that I'm bothering you."

Tezuka scoffed inwardly. Of course Fuji affected him. It was blatantly obvious to the both of them. "You already know that answer." Still, he couldn't help but follow Fuji's lead in lowering the volume of his voice.

Fuji's hands found his shoulders and slowly traced down to Tezuka's chest. "Say it anyway. I want to hear the words come from you." His face moved from behind Tezuka's ear to the crook of his neck. A soft intake of breath was heard when two soft lips pressed against the flesh there. "Tell me what I'm doing to you, Tezuka. Tell me I'm affecting you. I can feel your heart racing. I can feel your lungs trying to keep up with the rush of adrenaline you're probably feeling. I can see your cheeks flushing, but I want to hear you say that I'm causing all this; that I'm the one doing all this to you."

His voice took on a stubborn tone. Fuji was like that sometimes. He gave and gave and gave, but when he wanted to take, he took for all it was worth.

"Why?" His voice sounded rough and a bit shaky to his ears. He tried to calm himself, but Fuji was so close to him. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this need to touch the other man under control. He was worried that everything would come to a point all at once, but that was the price you paid for bottling everything up, he supposed.

Instead of answering, Fuji kissed his neck again. Heat started pooling low in his abdomen and he bit down on his lower lip to keep from making any embarrassing noises. His fingers tightened around the mouse and his other hand gripped his pant leg roughly. He was keeping his reactions well under control until a hot, wet tongue slid up his neck and trailed off along his jaw line.

"Fuji!" he called out harshly. "We can't…."

Fuji's warm breath was felt around his ear again. "You said to fix things with Yuuta. You said you'd be here."

A few deep breaths were taken before he could speak again. "You're emotionally involved with that situation. It would be best to wait."

A rough huff blew hair out of place. "It is precisely because I'm 'emotionally involved' that we shouldn't wait. We both want this. You're not fooling anyone by hiding under that desk, Tezuka. I don't see what the problem is."

When Tezuka didn't say anything, Fuji sighed. "Are you worried you'll regret it?" His voice was softer.

A long moment passed before Tezuka answered him. He had carefully thought through the implications of his words before he spoke them. Yes, he decided. He really meant what the words implied. "I was brought up to regret nothing."

A sound of relief was breathed into his ear. "As was I."

He turned his head slowly and pressed his lips to Fuji's. It was a chaste kiss; gentle and tender. He could control himself so long as Fuji behaved.

This was Fuji, however, and he had never known Fuji to behave himself completely in any situation. As such, it shouldn't have been of any surprise to Tezuka when Fuji's hand was suddenly off his chest and on his groin.

A light chuckle sounded between their lips. "I told you that you weren't fooling anyone."