Lucky Kyo
Chapter Five
Chikashi
About near the two year mark of her son's death, Eisaku's mother discovered that Makito had killed him. She also found out that Makito had ordered his best friend to slaughter his daughter because she was a cat. To assure he would never do such a thing again, Eisaku's mother buried an axe in Makito's skull. This time, Hiraku was able to pass judgment and she was executed. The same day she was slain, the second heir to her son's curse was born. He was Chikashi and he was born of a sheep and an ox.
Chikashi faced verbal and physical abuse as a child but he was frequently saved from this abuse by a young girl named Atsue. Atsue was a strong fearless girl who wasn't afraid to stop this injustice at any cost. Because of this, she frequently took the beatings that he had been spared.
Later on in life, Atsue and Chikashi got married. Atsue bore Chikashi a son but she died in childbirth. In gaining a son, Chikashi lost his loving wife. He felt guilty.
Chikashi raised his son as a single parent for approximately three years. After those three years passed, Hiraku's successor Fusae decided Chikashi was an unfit parent. She ordered the child to be sent to a 'real family' and ordered Chikashi to the cage.
The cage was hell for Chikashi. People fed him the scraps that even the animals wouldn't touch and he had nothing to do but think, which led to him becoming quite a philosopher, but the only person who listened to him was a little girl named Umeka. Unfortunately, three years later in 1943, Umeka suddenly stopped coming to see him. He never saw her again and never discovered what had happened to her. Chikashi was reduced to only thinking again. The accursed window of his cell only added to the torment. He saw the outside world changing through this window. He saw his son grow up, get married, and start a family through this window. He was physically assaulted with flying objects by mean-spirited children through this window. He was cursed at and spoken to bitterly through this window. The window, which most imagine would actually bring comfort, brought Chikashi nothing but sorrow.
Chikashi was growing old and sickly by the time he was informed that he was a grandfather. Knowing he would certainly not last much longer, Chikashi prayed that he could see his grandson once. His prayers would eventually be answered.
In 1968, Kazuma, his grandson, came rushing past the cage on his way to see his father. Upon noticing the old man beyond the barred window, Kazuma paused. Chikashi, when he realized how like Atsue Kazuma looked, knew this child was his grandson. With a cheerful smile, he extended his hand out of the cage and offered Kazuma what little good food he had - a few pieces of candy.
Kazuma responded to his grandfather's kindness with repulsion. He said cynically, "I don't want your curse," and ran off.
Though certainly not pleased with his grandson's reaction to him, Chikashi admitted to himself that the boy's feelings couldn't be helped. He was always taught to hate the cat. It wasn't Kazuma's fault. Chikashi forgave his grandson and thanked the heavens for allowing him to see Kazuma. Several months later, Chikashi died.
