Jiku

[TW: animal death]

An ordinary cat in his previous life. He lived in a small village with a superstitious old man and was given the name Ichijiku for being born near a fig tree.

Although he was cared for lovingly, the cat Ichijiku was slit at the throat after being caught watching the moon, for the old man feared he would turn into a dangerous monster and take his life. He was disposed of in a trash heap far, far away from home.

It was thought that Ichijiku's story ended there. However, his spirit was brought back to the living world by a red fish. When he came to, memories of his death plunged him into a rage, transforming him into a monster. He shed part of his name and looked for the old man, upon whom he laid a curse that would last for generations.

His rage subsided and the cat, now Jiku, watched the old man slowly perish with his family. It was then he realized he was not any better than the old man, and in fact had turned into something worse. Unable to lift the curse, Jiku returned to the red fish and thanked it for reviving him—or part of him. Jiku plans to repay the fish by whatever means, even if it meant he would wander the earth as a spirit forever.

Despite being perpetually restless and unsettled by Jiku's  behaviour, the red fish never leaves his side.