Chiyoko: The 1 000 Generations Child

Chapter 5: Devil In Disguise

Fuyu Azami woke up to the sound of thunderous laughter.

She pricked her ears. BLAM! Her eyes widened.

The shrine.

She took the long dagger from under her pillow and wrapped what remained of her silver hair around it in a bun.

Her wrinkled hand hovered over her canes. It lingered over the sturdy wooden one and then went for the one with the leaden head.

She slipped her feet in her white slippers and sneaked to her bedroom door.

She carefully slid her door open and peered into the hallway.

She tiptoed to the shrine and meticulously examined it.

She sighed relieved when nothing of her dear late husband had been touched and rolled her eyes when she saw the photograph of the woman had fallen down.

You and your damned child always interrupt my peace.

Azami spit on the photograph of the woman and kicked it under the altar.

CREAK.

What was that?

Azami tightened her grip on her cane and followed the sound.

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

Azami carefully slid open Kenji's bedroom door.

She rolled her eyes as she noticed the chaos of clothes, newspaper job sections, the old suitcase and cheap candy wrappers all scattered around the floor.

Amidst the chaos Kenji slept face down on a yellow stained futon.

Pig. 

She was about to turn around as the towel in front of the window got yanked down.

Time slowed down as the moon lit up the room. A figure stood in front of the window, its silhouette awfully familiar to Azami.

As the towel hit the ground, the figure looked up. A distorted smile crept on its face as it cracked its head.

Azami's face turned pale.

I-it can't be... Megumi?!

The figure floated towards Kenji and crouched down next to him, gently caressing his hair.

The figure jerked its head towards the door.

Azami quickly hid in the hallway. Sweat dripped down her face as she pushed herself against the wall.

She then dashed back to her bedroom and hid under her blankets.

Chiyoko was now all alone with her victim and judging by the reaction of the old lady her disguise was spot on.

"Now it's time to play," she whispered as she pulled Kenji up by his hair. A grin played on her lips.

She slapped his face to wake him up. "Remember me??????"

Still half-asleep Kenji opened his eyes. The moonlight was rather blinding, but he could make out the silhouette.

"Mom? Is that you?" A tear rolled down his cheek. "I missed you, mommy, I missed you so much."

Kenji sat up as he wrapped his arms around Chiyoko, tears flowing from his eyes.

"These last few years have been horrible. I lost my job. I lost my house. I didn't even have the money to offer you your favourite flowers for your birthday. But all will be alright, mom, all will be good again. I found a new job yesterday, so I'll pull through, mom, just like you always said I would. I'm gonna make you proud, mom. I promise."

Kenji tightened his hug.

"I promise," he whispered over and over again, "I promise."

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

When recovered from the initial shock, Chiyoko blew up her cheeks.

This was not how she had planned this. This was not what she wanted.

She yelled "Stop this behaviour at once!" and pushed him away.

Kenji fell on the futon.

Chiyoko's eyes and hair burned with rage as she held up her finger and made herself as intimidating as possible. "Now you listen to me, you -"

Kenji snored happily on his futon.

Chiyoko slammed her foot on the tatami. "Unbelievable!"