Please update! Though it's probably not likely cause it's been over 4 years.

This storry is so cute! I read it for the first time just a couple of minutes ago an I love it. I realy hope there will be a next chapter :)

I can't wait for the next chapter now that I found it. Though it is a bit disconcerting to see that this story was last updated in June. I hope you didn't abandon it, please update soon.

What?! No more chapters?! How can this be?! This story is great, I hope you continue it! How will Roxas free Axel? What will happen next?! Amazing story!

Well, here we are.
I'll be honest, whenever I reread this story, I can rarely bring myself to read this chapter, just like I can't watch the finale of most tv shows. I don't want it to end, and even though this story has been stuck at not ending for three years, it's still that same feeling. But I remain optimistic.
It may not be a trend, but I have noted that in most stories in which Roxas' family owns a cat, it is usually a black one that seems to hate his guts. Evil kitties for the win!
Also, cherry innuendo! Thoughts on the taste of cherries and possible jokes on the popping of various cherries! I love it! Part of me does wonder how Roxas never noticed that the cherries had pits. They're pretty hard to miss. Always feel like I've chipped a tooth whenever I accidentally chomp one.
While it's a minor talking point between our characters and a catalyst for later events in the chapter, I see the sharing of the fruit as a sign of the growing friendship between Roxas and Axel. In many cultures, an offer of food is a sign of camaraderie, a way of saying “You are important enough to me that I am willing to share this valuable (and possibly limited) resource with you.”
I also like that through the cherries, we are given another peek at merineitsi biology, or at the very least, Axel's own taste preferences. I'm guessing that the merineitsi diet consists mostly, if not entirely on fish/ meat, and therefore sweetness would be a rare flavor, indeed.
The fangirl part of my brain sees quite a bit of suggestiveness in Axel's statement, “Oh, we taste just fine.” I bet you do. XD
I wonder if in later chapters we'll see any deterioration in Axel's psyche. Yes, he has some interaction with the scientists and he has long conversations with Roxas, but the amount of time he spends alone without any enrichment could wear down anyone's mind. Hopefully he won't be in captivity long enough for that to happen.
Definitely loved the swimming scenes, made the fangirl in me all kinds of happy. The awkwardness of the whole situation is simply adorable. And again, we get a little peek at merineitsi habits with the whole swimming chest to chest thing.
I don't know where Roxas got the idea that boxers are more revealing than boxer-briefs, seeing as boxer-briefs are more *ahem* fitted than boxers.
And daaaawww! Axel called Roxas his friend!
Strangely, I don't find the idea of Axel giving Roxas one of his teeth gross at all. Since they are constantly being replace, it'd be just like giving a lock of hair to a lover.
Gah! This ends in one of the most gut wrenching cliffhangers ever! Especially since this story hasn't been touched in three years. Man, that's another reason why I have trouble rereading this chapter, the ending always tears me up and I get depressed. That foreshadowing from chapter five appears with a vengeance. I mean, we know from the description and the list of pairings in chapter one that Axel gets out and sees Saïx again, and that sometime after that he's reunited with Roxas. But until the story is actually updated, we can only speculate about how it will all play out.
I couldn't have found this story at a better time, I was slowing pulling away from the fanfiction community, not losing interest in RokuAku, just losing interest in the stories. I don't really have the energy seek out new stories anymore, I just have a long list of stories from the height of my obsession that I just reread. And, unfortunately, an increasing amount of those authors have dropped off the map, leaving many of their stories at critical turning points and cliffhangers. Some of these haven't been touched since 2008, and I still check up on them every few months.
Believe me when I say I am quite patient when it comes to cliffhangers. I've been waiting twelve years for one of my favorite shows to get past various tentative comebacks and resolve one of the most intensely rage-inducing cliffhangers of all time. I'm almost blindingly optimistic when it comes to my favorite things.
This type of devotion doesn't die easily. Why do you think I'm cramming seven in depth reviews and a fanart into a single week?
Whether you return to this story or not, I will finish the arts I have planned and keep an eye out for any other works you may do.

I'm sure that by this point your getting tired of reading these walls of text I keep writing. And believe me, I'm trying to keep these at a reasonable length. Would you believe me if I told you I used to have trouble stretching my words out? Guess I just needed an amazing story to inspire me. ;)
Aw, c'mon, Roxas! There's nothing wrong with a little prancing! If you feel happy, show it! I know that a large part of it is teenage pride, but I also get the feeling that if Roxas shows too much enthusiasm, more probing questions will be asked by the guards.
And speaking of guards, I sincerely hope Lexaeus' much too serious approach to his job includes rugby tackling would-be vandals.
True or not, I absolutely love the idea of merineitsi holding shark shows. I'm picturing sharks with designer collars and painted fintips being lead around an arena by merineitsi socialites.
I do wonder how merineitsi would keep track of pet turtles as, unlike the other pets mentioned, they would need to surface for air. Maybe they're just trained really well.
I also like the little detail of Axel's gills flaring open when he laughs. Another fun little bit of information.
So, merineitsi live in tunnels, huh? I guess that's why we haven't found them yet. Tunnels do seem more practical for underwater life, what with the immense water pressure, as well as the risk of erosion by the current. I'm actually picturing vast cities carved into the walls of mighty sea chasms, like something out of Bioshock.
The bit about Axel's mystery fins was hilarious. Considering what I know about shark anatomy, I can understand Roxas' mortification. It also lead to an interesting discussion about merineitsi sexuality, rank and the shift in the female population. Part of me is thinking it has something to do with global climate change and pollution. Axel said that only the higher-ups get to court females, does this mean that said females aren't allowed to choose someone of low rank as their mate? I know that I'm probably looking too far into this, and the merineitsi have their own culture, I'm just wondering what kinds of freedoms, or lack there of, these few females would have.
Once again, I find myself empathizing with the characters' relationship experience. I too had a good friend suddenly drop that he was attracted to me, although I never noticed any change in his behavior. Thankfully, it didn't end in a fight and me being abducted by aliens, just some awkwardness. I can also empathize with Axel's wondering if something is wrong with him for not feeling attraction to other people. Although in my case, it's less about not finding the right person and more about having no interest in having that type of relationship.
I like the little hints of attraction coming from both Roxas and Axel. They aren't falling into each other's arms, just mutual, unidentifiable feelings that will probably lead to a realization some time in the future. I really hope this story gets to that point.

Poor Roxas, he can never get a break from Riku. Part of me wants to feel bad for the lovestruck idiot, but I've dealt with persistent would-be suitors, and while none of them hung around as long as Riku does, it still wasn't a fun situation to be in.
While this may be a filler chapter, as I've said before, these are important for expanding the characters. We get to see Demyx' artistic skill, meet Luxord and hear his view on the whole merman situation, and get a rather chilling bit of foreshadowing with the tale of the Irritator.
As someone who grew up reading dinosaur books and watching dinosaur documentaries, I am genuinely surprised that I did not know about the Irritator Spinosaurus before reading this story.
I really like the father-son relationship between Xigbar and Demyx, it adds another layer to these characters. And their dialogue is really fun to read. Ah yes, the dreaded email from a teacher, lets you know when an adult means business, right up there with hearing your full name.
A thought occurs to me, how does Axel know what a goldfish is,? Let alone its supposed intelligence. The goldfish is a domesticated freshwater fish. Unless a flushed away fish, against all odds, makes it to the deep ocean intact, a merineitsi would have no knowledge of the animal. It's a minor discrepancy, just thought I'd point it out.
Poor Axel, all alone. Yes, he was visited by Roxas and the others, but being with a group and unable to socialize is a worse feeling than being alone, because the invisible wall between yourself and others feels almost tangible.
Let's see, what else?
I liked the sushi comment and Axel being all blushy.
Really wish I had more to say on this chapter.
On to chapter six!

Words!
Words are happening between our main characters!
Axel acting all coy (koi?) about everything is sooo cute! I've always had a soft spot for shy!Axel.
While it's not a huge detail, I like that Roxas acknowledges the infinitely small odds that one of the few english speaking merfolk chose to befriend him. He's not acting all “Oh, I'm so boring and normal, and all these amazing things keep happening to me.” ...I was going somewhere with this, but the words just aren't coming together, so I'll move on to the next point.
It's neat that the merineitsi have not only their own language and writing, but there are also those willing to learn human language and translate their own writing into English. As someone who has trouble learning other languages, I can respect anyone who has the drive and the ability to become fluent, or at the very least, proficient. It's also a fun little detail that Axel speaks with an accent, and pronounces their names differently.
The merineitsi have a museum filled with human stuff? I'm guessing a lot of it comes from shipping lanes and the Pacific Gyre. I like the idea that anything not put in the museum gets either turned into something useful or destroyed. These guys probably make their home on the sea floor and therefor have access to geothermal vents, which could be used to destroy whatever they can't use. The fact that they have cadavers on display, morbid as it may be, doesn't bother me. The scientist in me wonders what they use to preserve the specimens, like some undersea equivalent to formaldehyde. And while Axel may be appalled by what humans may do while studying a merineitsi corpse, I don't doubt that the same things have been done to the human bodies at the museum.
I really like the bits of merineitsi culture that are hinted at, such as where they are allowed to go. The part I enjoy most about writing a story is the world building, so it's nice to see other writers putting that type of effort into their own stories.
The different calender is a great layer of detail. Living underwater, the merineitsi wouldn't need to measure everything around the changing of the seasons, just the tides. They wouldn't need to worry about any dramatic changes in temperature or the hibernation cycles of plants and animals. At most the only big change would be the migration patterns of whales, sharks and fish.
On that note, it's nice to see an author taking a realistic approach to Axel's age. He's not a mystical creature that is 500 years old, only about 19. At this point I'm going to guess that the average merineitsi lifespan is roughly parallel to that of a humans?
On the subject of merineitsi, is Axel's tail vertical like a fish's, or horizontal like a whales? I figured it would be horizontal (like most depictions of merfolk), as Axel's skin is warm, therefore he is warm blooded and therefore a mammal, but the use of the term caudal fin threw me off. The reason I ask is not just for a clearer picture, but also because I would like these arts I am working on to be accurate. *wink*
The fangirl in me very much appreciates the suggestiveness of the touching scenes. Whether or not the innuendo was on purpose, it does show the growing trust between our main characters. And part of me wants to explain to Axel that while we have quite a few digits, our locomotion is based on reflex and muscle memory, not concentration. It would be a much more dangerous/ hilarious world if we had to consciously move every limb as we walk.
While it's only a very minor detail in the chapter, I find it interesting that hiccups would make an appearance during a discussion on the physiological differences between humans and merineitsi. One scientific theory as to why we get hiccups is because the reflex is an evolutionary remnant from our amphibious ancestors.
I definitely understand Roxas' feelings of helplessness when Axel pleads with him to help him be released. While I've never had an animal ask me to free them, it's a similar feeling I get when I see the types of behavioral disorders the animals develop while in captivity. Roxas may not have the power to free Axel, but that doesn't mean there won't be a daring midnight escape sometime in the future, right?
The growing friendship between Roxas and Axel feels very realistic. From the outside it might seem a little fast, but given Axel's captive situation, it's only natural that he would grow attached to Roxas so quickly. The fangirl in me hopes that this means that some lovin' will happen soon too, but you take all the time you need.
Guh!
Again, so much I want to say, I could honestly write a whole essay for each chapter and it would be more enjoyable than those monsters I had to write in college.
Ah, well.
Time to start the next one!

Right off the bat we are given further evidence that Roxas isn't the complete angel most authors write him as. He's a teenager willing to use his mom's long night shifts to get into the type of adolescent mischief you'd expect.
It's great to see Roxas interacting with his friends at school, even if he's spaced out and tired. I don't consider these types of scenes filler at all. Breaks in the action are good places for introducing the other characters and providing character development. It's also fun to see that while Roxas isn't the only one that loaths Riku's presence, there are a couple in the group that consider Riku a friend.
And again, Sora and Kairi in a relationship! Yes, it's a side pairing, but I so rarely find it in any of the stories I follow. The fact that it's in one of my favorite stories is just icing on this cake 'o awesome.
This thought occurred to me as I was writing these reviews, Riku's thoughts on all of his and Roxas' “dates” and his expectations very much fit with the unfortunately common portrayal of Roxas as the stereotypical submissive uke. Riku expects Roxas to fall into his arms at the smallest gesture, and persists despite Roxas' sometimes violent rejections. The poor diluted bastard.
And there it is again! Roxas, the Master of Seduction. I know, I keep coming back to this, but it's so rare to find a story where Roxas has any relationship experience, let alone the level of confidence he has here. He sees right through all of Riku's tactics and so-called heroics, because he knows how to use them himself!
Why do I get the feeling that Riku was about to suggest the water park because it would be an excuse to wear a tiny speedo around Roxas?
It's also a nice change of pace to see Demyx with his canon personality, instead of this hyper-active ferret bouncing off the walls and hugging everyone in sight. He is very much a teenage slacker, but he doesn't seem to lack ambition.
Yeesh, Tako's is certainly counting their eggs before they hatch, what with them already having plans for a mermaid exhibit. Whose to say they'll be able to keep Cherry once they reveal their discovery? Not that I think they'll even get the chance. ;)
Once again, there are these little details that make the merman so much more than just an underwater human, such as the fluttering of the dorsal fin as a sign of anxiety. He's a different species with his own quicks and habits.
Also, a fish speaking?
Clearly it's someone over the loudspeakers messing with Roxas, just like the “Free Willzyx” episode of South Park. Soon they'll be stealing a rocket to send him to the moon.
I really wish I could think of more to say on this chapter, beyond the “Yay, my favorite strait Kingdom Hearts pairings!” My brain seems to have more big feelings than big thoughts on this chapter.
Ah well, next chapter!

The creature is revealed!
I love how you described the absolute awe our blond friend feels at the reveal, stunned to silence with the brain completely scrambled is a little used form of awe.
Also, Cherry is a frickin' adorable nickname. That little moment when the blond and the merman stare at each other after the name is picked is soooo cute! I absolutely love it when authors include little moment like these between characters.
And Riku's various attempts to get the blond's attention back on himself, even though he dragged him here to show off the merman in the first place, are hilarious. Seriously, Riku, what did you expect? Actually, we know what he expected, thanks to those over-the-top fantasies of his.
There are all these little details that show how much thought you put into the story, and really add depth, like how Cherry's hair is actually gill filaments. Most writers just leave it as hair and call it a day, but that one detail makes the merman that much more plausible, it is also a good explanation for the bright colour and how it can be spiky when out of water. The fact that his skin blends seamlessly into scales, instead of a distinct line like a stitched together chimera, is another great detail that is rarely used. Just the fact that his fins are banded and spotted is another neat addition, brightly coloured fish are rarely just one colour. Even the bureaucracy surrounding Cherry's capture gives the institute a slightly sinister edge, while not making them villains. They just want to cover all their bases and make sure they get credit for the findings, which is understandable, history is rife with the credit for discoveries and innovations being stolen because of some loophole.
And yay! Our mystery blond is none other than Roxas! Of course, we all knew it was him, just like we know what Cherry's real name is, but the reveal is fun none the less.
Roxas's heartwarming declaration that he would be Cherry's friend and protect him was amazing. And the hands on the glass, a bit of a cliché, but cute and a bit gut wrenching at the same time. It's got a bit of that poetic “two worlds that can never meet, but here we are with a physical connection” vibe that is just beautiful. I likes me some protective Roxas.
Ya know what? It's great to see a story where Roxas is the one being all seductive and cunning. I got tired of stories that have him portrayed as the stereotypical passive blushing uke early on. So rarely is he on equal footing with Axel, it's an unfortunate trend that still persists in this community, so it's rare treat when authors take the effort to write him as an actual human. There's a reason RokuAku, and not AkuRoku, is my favorite.
It's also nice to see Riku not being wrist cuttingly, eyeliner wearingly, my-soul-is-an-endless-void-of-darkness emo, or the contemplative, stoic guy, but an actual comedic character. Not just comedic, but a thick-skulled, hormonal, neurotic teenager! A lot of writers will play up his dark personality for comedic affect, which is hilarious, but him just being the uncoordinated goofball of the group makes for a fun read.
Gah!
So many things I want to comment on, but I've gotta get to reviewing the other chapters!
Onward!

First off, words can't explain how relieved I am to see that you're alright. I know this sounds weird coming from some random person on the internet, but you had me quite worried. After reading in the author's notes about your ordeal and seeing that your profile hadn't been updated in a few years, I was honestly fearing the worst. Even though I don't know you, stuff like that always hit's me hard.
Okay, enough with the heavy, on with the review!
I discovered this amazing story around Christmas 2011, so this is a loooooong time coming.
This first chapter has great build up and suspense, walking through doors covered in warming signs (the HitchHiker in me hopes one of those said “Beware of the Leopard”) and through long aquarium corridors, the creepy whale skeleton, even the mention of the chilly air adds an extra layer of tension to the scene. Outside of actual nightwatchmen, anyone would be freaked out to be in a chilly aquarium at night. Even though we know from the summary it's a merman in the tank, the fact that you chose not to say the word, and instead left a To Be Continued, adds a nice extra bit of mystery for the audience to chew on before the next chapter.
You also made great use of this simple walk to establish the personalities and relationship of Riku and our mystery blond in an efficient way that doesn't break the flow of the story. I've seen this done quite poorly in other stories, and am glad to see it done well here. Riku's total lack of social tact and self awareness, as well as his increasingly desperate attempts to keep the blond from storming home or severely injuring him are quite hilarious to read. Within the realm of socially inept teenagers, Riku would be king. Even the guards get a bit of development as well. Without even making an appearance we get the sense that they are not above their own mischief.
I really wish I had more to say about this first chapter that wasn't gushing, I'll try to spread said gushing throughout the other chapters.
Even before I got to the actual story I had a feeling this would be a personal favorite, not just because it's main pairing is classified as the rare RokuAku, my very favorite pairing (on a less innocent note, I really hope RokuAku means the... “configuration” I think it does), but also because one of the side pairings is SoKai, another favorite of mine that doesn't get the attention it deserves, especially in the AkuRoku/RokuAku community. I'm also glad to see another author that also likes NamiRiku and PenLette. That is four out of my five Kingdom Hearts ships, found in a single story! The fifth is MarLarx btw.
As someone who ships exactly ONE homosexual couple in the entire Kingdom Hearts fandom, it is nice to see stories that aren't filled with just homosexual couples and the bashing of female characters.
I can't guarantee my reviews of the other chapters won't be in essay form, it's hard to keep the words in when I love this story so.
I'll include questions about details in the chapter they appear.
Now, on to Chapter 2!

Oh god! (my sincerest apalogies, incase you're religious) I'm so loving this story! It's my favorite, I'm telling you. But- le gasp -I'm only just now getting around to favoriting it? Must have read this lovely piece a hundred times over! I love the whole plot and the creativity you put in every chapter. There's always an undertone of good-humor. I love it. It's SO beyond adorable, the way you write Axel. I think I could say his character is close to the original, only cuter, but I'm not sure. I suck at reading inbetween the lines, gauging reactions, the like. I blame the homeschooling!...Anyway, I think I've starting swaying in my topic...You don't completely butcher every character like most stories I've read! It's refreshing to hear- or rather, read -about a nice Kairi whose character isn't butchered out of unreasonable hate.
Nevertheless! Hope you get around to finishing Amphibious Love, but I won't be the pest that's nagging you about it. I swear! I won't! Though maybe it's too late to say that...? XP
Ps. I hope the...Burkitt's Lymphoma is better by now! (I mean gone. Goodness gracious! I need to learn to word my...sentences better!)...if that's a heck no, it takes longer to heal-don't call me out on stupidity. It's actually...(Nyah! What's the word?)...uninformed...ness. 8P
Like I said, love the story! X3

Please keep writing :) axel has to go home

will you continue? if not could you say that you won't? should i keep hoping or should i give up?

OMG! When will u finish this. I LOVE this story I can't wait another moment.