"It's been five months already..." Konami said, looking up at the sky. "It's hard to believe he's really gone."
"You miss him a lot, don't you?" Konami's mother said, walking towards her daughter.
"Mother!" Konami said. "Are you sure you can be out of bed?"
"Yes yes, don't worry about me child. The antidote that was found near Kazu's resting place in Delkfutt's Tower is working fine." She responded, feeling sympathy for her daughter, who seemed as if she would never recover.
'She's seen a side of Batosai I never thought existed,' Konami's mother thought to herself. 'and has helped him to help others, while being helped in searching for my cure. He must truly be a special person to her, and to everyone they knew... thank you, Kazu.'
'Hikiri...' Scunex thought, looking at the transmutation circles marked on the walls. 'your nephew was truly something special. Although he didn't overcome the darkness within him, he had enough heart to die to protect his loved ones, and the rest of this world. Kazu was a fine example of a hero, and I'm sure you two are in Paradise right now, just waiting for the rest of us to go on another adventure.'
'Thanks to you, Kazu, I was finally able to prove myself as a Paladin,' Kalnor thought, resting in his bed after his initation ceremony for the Bastokan Paladins was over. 'You showed me that overcoming the evil within isn't enough, but that repentance must be made for the past sins. If I didn't learn that, I would have never seen my dream come true.'
'Kazu...' Hogosha thought, looking into the star-filled night sky of Windurst. 'thanks to you I was able to see more of the world than I ever imagined I could. Adventuring, helping those in need, protecting the defenseless... those were things I could never imagine doing before I met you. You showed wisdom beyond your years, and your kindness inspired me to become a better Guardian. Thank you, my friend.'
'Now that you're gone, Kazu,' Kirith thought, breaking another record in the archery course. 'I really do miss having you around. Windurst doesn't need the protection of a Ranger... I want to go out and explore the world more, and become stronger. But now... I also want to become stronger to try to fill your place. This world still needs heroes, and I'm not going to back down from the challenge. If we ever meet again, let's have a little sparring match to see just how strong you are.'
Back in Scunex's hut, Seijuro found a picture of his family before the Dark Project. 'Kazu...' he thought, looking at the picture. 'Kousaten always looked up to you, not just as an older brother, but as a hero. When you became Batosai, I lost all hope in ever being able to see you again... but your brother had faith, and went to find you. I see now why he looked up to you so much... and I will miss you both deeply.'
'Kazu...' Ciero thought while making dinner for everyone. 'even through the darkest of times, you've pulled through, lighting the way for others. This can't be the end for you, and I think I know a young girl who feels the same way. I'll be seeing you again soon, my son.'
Mikan curled up in Konami's lap as she petted him, slowly sending him to sleep. "What is your reason for being so loyal to Kazu?" She whispered to Mikan. "I know my reasons... Kazu helped me whenever I needed help, lighted the right path for me in the darkness, protected me from harm, and gave me hope when I thought that none could ever exist again. He was always so selfless and brave... helping people with anything he could with only the sole reason of just being able to help them.He was a great guy, you know? I..." She stopped a little to dry tears that were beginning to well up in her eyes, then added, "I miss you... Kazu."
A month later, just as Konami was about to go to Windurst to see Hogosha and Kirith again, an elvaan dragoon in crimson armor walked up to her and said, "Excuse me, miss, but do you know where I can find the bard, Konami?"
"K...Kazu?" Konami asked, hugging the dragoon, who was identical to Kazu, and even was familiar to Mikan.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not this Kazu you speak of," he responded. "my name is Hitena, Crimson Dragoon."
"He's right, Konami," Scunex said, walking towards them while pointing to a mark on Hitena's hand. "he isn't the Kazu we know, but he is indeed a fragment of him."
"A fragment?" Konami asked.
"What's all this about?" Hitena asked in a very startled tone.
"Part of the Crimson Light is the power of Phoenix, giving whoever controls it the power to restore their own life," Scunex said, nodding a little as he spoke. "however, it seems something went wrong when Kazu reincarnated himself, and instead he was formed into fragments. These are all individuals who have only scattered traces of Kazu's memories, and there could be anywhere from two to thousands of them. It's lucky for you that Hikiri and I did a lot of research on it."
"K... erm... Hitena," Konami said. "would you be willing to accompany me on my travels?"
"Certainly, that's why I'm here, it's what we always used to do." He responded.
"I'll do my best to bring Kazu back," Konami whispered to Scunex. "as long as you can keep my mother in good health."
"That won't be a problem, and I expect nothing less from you. Take care of yourself, Konami." Scunex whispered back, just before Konami and Hitena walked off to begin their journey together, to restore Kazu to his former self.