She was getting old. There was no doubt about it. She could feel the Radiant Garden's storms coming days prior, and it was getting harder to move places. Her joints complained, her muscles ached, but she had to keep moving.
She had to keep moving for the ball of sunshine known as her granddaughter.
Of course, her husband miraculously avoided all of these problems, but he was definitely aging. He spent a lot of his time cooped up in his elaborate basement laboratory, spending days at a time down there.
It was a pleasant surprise to find herself sitting next to him in the castle courtyard one day.
They acknowledged each other's presence by the silent intertwining of their fingers, not even bothering to look at each other. The two sets of eyes were locked on the little girl playing in the small bed of flowers, having a marvelous time on her own.
"It's been a while since her parents died."
His voice was low, but it rang in her ears. The girl continued playing, blissfully unaware, but her grandmother turned to see amber eyes staring into hers.
It seems they turned more orange since he retreated into his basement.
"She's getting along well," she replied quietly, lowering her gaze. Her husband frowned, squeezing her hand gently.
"It's amazing how well she's coped," he continued, in his mesmerizing voice. In front of the civilians, his voice was powerful, famous even. At the moment, it was soft, almost timid. The voice she wasn't used to hearing. The voice that sent ripples up her spine. "She's quite a sight to behold. My research has led me to believe that every person has a dark side..." He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "But it is hard to think that someone like her could have one."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence for a while, until he spoke again.
"She has your hair."
The sun shone down on the little girl, named Kairi, illuminating auburn hair to a glorious amber color. Her grandmother smiled sadly.
"No. She has her mother's hair." Pause. "You haven't been around lately, Ansem."
Ansem's muscles stiffened at this; she could feel it in the pressure he was now applying to her hand. Slowly, he withdrew his hand and placed it instead around her shoulders, gently, timidly, like he was about to break her. She melted against him, resting her head on his shoulder. They hadn't done something like this in years. They hadn't spoken in days, slept near each other in weeks, or embraced in months. He was just too busy.
"I've missed you," Ansem murmured into her ear, gently stroking her thinning hair. He saw it as the bright auburn it had been, instead of the silver it was currently. She didn't reply, but then again, she had never been good with words. Talking was always his job, since she would only mess it up.
"You're a good man, Lord Ansem," the grandmother sighed, so quietly even he didn't hear. "You're a good man."
a/n; figured it was time for someone to address why Kairi and her grandmother live in the castle Hollow Bastion and how they're related to Ansem.
plus, I happen to love this couple. old people love is awesome.