Welcome! This is an AU Sailor Moon story, since I think I should be up to date on what has happened in Sailor Moon before I do a regular fanfic. This is a romantic retelling of Cinderella, only Usagi isn't Cinderella… Mamoru is! Well, maybe Cinderfella would be better… There will be some humor and some tears. It's been so long that I got to write something actually intending for people to cry. And I didn't know Mamoru's father's or mother's names, these I made up. So, remember that reviews are very nice, italic is thoughts to self, bold is stressing, and normal is action and speaking!
Welcome to:
~ Diamond in the Ashes ~
Prologue: Broken (3rd party Perspective)
"Mamoru, come here, love."
A small child came next to the woman on the bed, tears glimmered in his eyes. He gently took her hand and looked up at her softly smiling face.
"Mamoru, my Mamoru, be strong, my dearest, for I believe you have a wonderful life ahead of you," she touched the glossy black hair of her beloved son. "Take care of your little sisters, my Mamoru, be kind to them. You are Reiko's son, lightning child, swift and bright. Be bright, my Mamoru, like the moon and stars, like the glistening diamond. My diamond… my… Mamo… ru…"
The woman's hand slid limply to the bed as the child screamed. Tears of a broken heart streamed down his face. His cries brought the rest of the house running.
"Mommy?! Mommy?! Mommy, wake up! Please, mommy, please wake up!"
Thundering through the door, his stepfather, Keitsu, appeared, followed by his stepbrothers, Haijei and Dairei, and his four little sisters, Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako. His stepfather turned to him and backhanded him across the cheek.
"You! What did you do?!" he raced to his wife's side. "Utsukushii, Utsukushii, wake up, please, my love, wake up!"
He turned back to Mamoru to hit him again, only to stop in surprise. All four little girls were hugging him, listening to his sobbing, wiping away his tears… and glaring at their father. Suddenly, a broken wailing echoed in the room.
"Mommy! MOOOOOOOMMEEEEEEEE! I held your hand, Mommy, I held your hand! Why do you sleep, why, Mommy, why?!"
Keitsu turned to his sons, pointing at the door. His eyes were cold and flat, another broken heart.
"I want you two to go now and move his belongings to the attic. Go!" the brothers did not move. "I SAID GO!" Haijei and Dairei bolted from the room.
He turned back to Mamoru. "You are no son of mine. Go to the attic, that's where you'll be sleeping from now on. No more coddling for you, you work for your meals now."
He walked to the door and stopped. "Utsukushii loved you best. Even above me. Her Mamoru, yes, her Mamoru. Utsukushii is gone now," his voice quavered.
"Gone…" Keitsu left the room, with tears no one could see falling from his eyes.
His little sisters helping him, Mamoru, slowly made his way to the attic, his new home. Tears like liquid diamonds streamed down five faces, though there were no longer any sounds of grief. Upon reaching his new room, Mamoru collapsed onto his bed. His little sisters laid with him, murmuring endearments, telling him things would get better, and knowing in there minds and hearts that it would all only get worse…