Answer:
a) 暦 -> 昆 -> 皆 -> 的
暦 REKI, koyomi - history
昆 KON - elder brother, later, insect
皆 KAI, mina - all
的 TEKI, mato - -ish, target
b) 菓 -> 棋 -> 期 -> 脚
菓 KA - cake, fruit
棋 KI - go, shogi, Japanese chess
期 KI, GO - time, period, term
脚 KYAKU, KYA, ashi - leg