A/N: Okies, um… no this isn't a gender bend story. Taiga is listed as a character because he plays an important role; this isn't just about Aomine here. And the mermaids have legs when they're not in water. So if anyone has anything else they'd like for me to clear up, please, ask away, I'd rather you know what's going on than to dislike my story. Thanks to those whom favorited/ followed, I appreciate it. Here's another chapter, enjoy ,and review. XOXO

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Part Of Your World

Chapter 3

Aomine must had spent a good majority of his night tossing and turning, when he wasn't emptying bottles of hard liquor, before finally feeling the wave of sleep wash over him. He hadn't been so fitful since Eiri was taken from him, and the fact that O'Mara was there wasn't helping things either. On his way back to his room, he took it upon himself to check in on her. The mermaid was asleep, like he was expecting her to be, and that was something to b e thankful for. But he noticed that even as she slept she appeared frightened, her features contorted in more fear than he'd ever seen.

Once Aomine was finally able to calm his nerves long enough to get some kind of sleep, and eager knocking no more than hours after the sun had risen, drew him from his bed once more. The one on the other side of the door, causing all the horrid ruckus at such an early hour, was Momoi Haruko- Aomine's long time friend and the vice president of the CMPA. She all but trampled the man as he opened the door, granting her entrance.

"Where is she? Where is she?" The pinkette eagerly bounced as she walked past him. It was never too early for Momoi to pelt her dearest friend with her presence.

"No doubt your peppiness scared her away." Aomine replied sarcastically, closing the door behind her. He gave a yawn, scratching the back of his head, as he watched his oldest childhood friend search his apartment, rambling on and on about how proud she was (happy for the both of them and then some) of him of finally being able to let go of the past and move on with his life. He didn't have the heart to tell her, just yet at least, that this wasn't his idea at all.

Momoi shot him a faux, nasty glare. "Or maybe your attitude did," She countered. "Anyway, I didn't know what size to get so I hope her clothes fit." The woman said, referring to the bag of pet garments she'd personally picked her on her way there. She normally wouldn't be too involved in the lives of owners, her job title only required her to do so much, but for Aomine she made the exception. Momoi unpacked the piles upon piles of neatly wrapped plastic bags, each one containing a bronze trimmed bra-like top, teal briefs with long skirt and plated front, choker with chain attachment, and headpiece- the standardized attire all pets were required to wear. Aomine watched as Momoi chattered on about something he had little to no interest in, wondering why he'd allowed her into his home so early in the first place.

"Now, where is she?" Asked the pinkette, turning to face him.

Aomine nonchalantly nodded his head over in the direction of the spare bedroom. Momoi had been over numerous times before, so she knew exactly where to go. She all but ran to meet her friend's newest pet, stopping and gasping at the sight she saw. The girl had to have been in her mid to late teens, her dark ebony curls glistened under the small rays of sunlight that peeked into the room. Even under the dim lighting, Momoi could make out the fine details of the markings along her limbs and torso, and even she was unable to deny the fact that the girl was quite beautiful.

"What is her name?" Asked Momoi, her voice a whisper.

"Ask her yourself," Replied Aomine dully.

Curious golden eyes shifted between the two bodies in the room, wondering more about the pink haired woman than her owner and the exhausted expression he bore. Momoi smiled warmly at the girl before demanding that she be unchained. Aomine shot his friend a firm look of disapproval, like she couldn't have suggested a more horrible idea. Yes, because chasing a mermaid around was exactly what he wanted to do so early in the morning. But going against the pinkette would cause more troubles than he could handle at the moment, so giving her what she wanted seemed to be the best route to go. Momoi smiled approvingly, watching silently as the awkward girl sat up and stretched her stiff limbs.

"You can tell this is her first time on land," Observed Momoi. "She's still got a lot of things to learn and get used to, walking properly is one of them. I wouldn't recommend keeping her constantly chained. She's not like Eiri where she had time to grow used to our customs and rules before being purchased. She needs some kind of freedom, Aomine."

This struck a nerve with the man, "She's nothing like Eiri." He said. "Do what you want, I'm going to play ball with Kise."

Momoi sighed defeated as she watched her friend storm off, earning a baffled look from the young mermaid. "Oh don't mind him," Said the pinkette. "He can be so moody sometimes, I'm Momori Haruko. What's your name?"

"…O'Mara." Answered the dark haired girl shyly.

"Well O'Mara, let's get you clean up and changed."

"Aomine really isn't a bad guy you know… he's just been through a lot in so very little time." Momoi's kind voice filled the vast emptiness that was the man's apartment. Her gentle hands combed through dark locks, untangling the fine, curled strands. "Eiri, his first pet, was taken from him. Back then there weren't any laws to prevent such things from happening like there are today. It tore him apart, for as long as I've known him I'd never seen him so beaten. I personally think he loved her; he and I are friends but there are just some things he prefers to keep to himself. He denied it of course, it's against the law after all, but in all my years of working with the CMPA, I've never seen someone so distraught over losing a pet. He may be a bit protective of you, and now you know he means well by it. He's honestly not bad, he likes things a certain way, and if you just follow the rules you'll be alright." Momoi stepped back to look at the finished product, smiling broadly. "There, you are now officially a pet of the Republic of Chochoga."

O'Mara studied her reflection in the tall mirror, barely able to recognize herself. Whatever ties she'd tried so desperately to keep from her home had officially been taken from her, replaced by some new identity she didn't want.