BEFORE YOU READ: The illustration in the last part of the chapter is NOT MY ARTWORK! It was sketched by @gregorsamsa10 on Discord! All thanks and credit to him for the amazing sketch! That's all; enjoy the episode!

Episode 5: A Wonderful Life

"Bring her back!" Kousei snarled, his angry tears flowing down his scrunched-up, reddened face.

The Watcher held up his hand. "Arima, please, listen to me—"

"Bring her back!" Kousei repeated, seizing the corner of the Watcher's giant blue cape.

"Kousei, that's not—!"

"BRING HER BAAAACK!" Kousei screamed again, burying his face in the Watcher's cape and banging on his golden armor with his scrawny fist.

"Arima, you're not listening!" the Watcher implored. "That's not going to make everything better for you!"

"Yes it WILL!" Kousei's muffled voice argued through the cape.

"No Kousei, it won't!"

Kousei's bitter wailing momentarily ceased as he released his feral hold on the Watcher's cape and looked at Strange Supreme. Kousei's face was still red and scrunched up, his eyes blazing red from all his desperate crying. Kousei was about to argue with the Sorcerer Supreme. But as Arima opened his mouth to utter a retort, he hesitated. Strange's eyes were not full of disappointment nor stern scolding from an elder.

Rather, they were full of authentic sorrow and empathy for the pain of the young pianist.

"Kousei, please!" Strange Supreme said. "You have no idea what you are wishing for! Your obsession is not only destroying you, but it will destroy those around you as well if you do not keep it in check!"

"And how would you know that?!" Kousei growled. "I saw every moment of that battle you and the others had with Dr. Doom! Your power alone was more than enough to protect that universe and slay both Doom and his puppet Yeager! What do you know about what I've lost?! I didn't just lose Kaori...I lost everyone!"

The sorcerer was silent, listening to the young prodigy's venting with a kind and mournful heart. Strange was tempted to yell and scream back at the boy, but instead, he put a consoling hand on his shoulder and began opening his Time Stone.

"So did I, Arima," Strange replied gently. "So did I."

"What?" Arima asked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Just watch," Strange answered as he began taking Arima back through time. Arima had to close his eyes, for seeing all the places and people fly by so quickly made him giddy. Then everything was completely still, and Arima opened his eyes. Around him, he saw that he and Strange Supreme were on a modern city street, right outside what looked to be a small pizza diner.

"Where are we?" Kousei asked.

"At the last place I saw the woman I loved," Strange explained. "Many years ago."

Kousei wiped his tears away and put his glasses back on. "What happened?"

"Just wait," Strange told him. "You'll see."

Sure enough, Kousei suddenly heard the vroom of a fancy sports car in the distance, and turned to see a flashy black Lamborghini approaching from the right. As it came to halt in front of the curb, Kousei saw a man dressed in a dapper suit and a shiny wristwatch emerge from the driver's side.

Kousei gasped...it was none other than Strange Supreme himself in the past!

"Keep watching," Strange Supreme reminded, keeping the pianist focused.

As Kousei continued to watch, he saw a beautiful woman around Strange's age—but about four inches shorter than him—gracefully strut out of the diner and approach Strange's younger self with a flirtatious smile. She wore a jet-black dress, black stilettos, and rose-red lipstick that matched her scarlet earrings. Her brown hair, perfectly straightened, was in a tight bun, and her nails appeared to have been freshly manicured just hours before this date night.

"Hey handsome," the woman said coyly.

"Good evening, my darling Christine," Strange's younger self greeted charmingly, taking hold of her hand and kissing it like a proper gentleman. Kousei felt a pang of longing pierce his heart, and quickly swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

"Stop it!" Kousei protested. "I get it!"

"No, you don't!" Strange Supreme said firmly. "Now pay attention."

Kousei did just that, and at first didn't see what the problem was. Then suddenly, he jumped back and screamed in horror as he witnessed Strange Supreme from the past make a dangerous move on the highway that ended with his Lamborghini a dilapidated mess on the riverbank below...

And the love of his life a cold, lifeless corpse in the passenger seat.

"STOP IT!" Kousei screamed again. "I understand! I'm sorry I argued with the Watcher!"

"You cannot understand a book if you don't read it cover to cover!" Strange chastised. "Now Keep. Watching!"

Manipulating his Time Stone, Strange Supreme brushed past his training to become a sorcerer and stopped when he reached a repeat of that very same night yet again.

"This was my first of many attempts to try and manipulate my timeline," Strange explained to Arima. "Watch and observe closely."

Kousei knew better than to contest the sorcerer's wishes, and forced himself to keep his teary eyes opened as he witnessed the Doctor Strange in the past try to save Christine multiple times but all in vain.

Kousei saw how Strange had tried to take a different route. Nothing changed.

Kousei saw how Strange had tried to avoid making the risky turn on the dark freeway that had caused the crash in the first place. Nothing changed.

Kousei saw how Strange had tried to have Christine drive instead. Nothing changed.

Kousei saw how Strange had tried to just have him and Christine eat at a different restaurant. Nothing changed.

Then finally, Kousei saw how Strange had tried to not pick up Christine at all.

Nothing. Changed.

Kousei wasn't even bothering to hide his pain and anguish as he witnessed events that repeatedly reminded him of Kaori's death.

"So...what got you to stop?" Kousei asked in a shaky voice.

Strange Supreme's eyes were filled with great sadness as he looked at the young musician.

"I didn't," he answered. "That's the problem."

The spectacle continued for what Kousei guessed to be another half hour at least. Kousei was scarcely able to keep track of the fight that occurred between Strange Supreme and his good alter ego that had been created when the Ancient One split the timeline in this formerly vibrant universe. Then, Kousei looked on with horror as Strange Supreme defeated his more sensible alter ego and absorbed even his body for the sake of gaining more power.

Kousei's grief returned in a tidal wave of emotions as he saw the past self of Strange Supreme struggle in vain to contain the destruction he'd caused and preserve even just the small patch of soil him and Christine stood on. Kousei even saw him beg the Watcher, who by now had revealed himself and told the guilty sorcerer there was nothing he could do.

"I think you of all people should know the dire consequences of meddling with the fabric of a universe," the Watcher's voice had boomed. "I'm sorry, Stephen."

"No...NO!" Strange's past self cried out. "I DIDN'T WANT ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN!!!"

But as Kousei saw, the entire universe that had once been large and teeming with life collapsed until it was just a lonely pocket dimension containing Strange's past self and the yet again deceased Christine.

"I am so, so sorry!" Strange's voice from the past wailed into the abyss. "I am so, so sorry!"

Then, Kousei found himself back in the pub with the sorcerer's eyes gazing kindly into his. Kousei now knew just how out of line he'd been when he spoke, and apologized to both of them promptly.

"Not to worry, young Arima," the Watcher said kindly.

"Believe me, Kousei!" Strange said, his hand on the pianist's right shoulder. "I know how you feel more than anyone! You lost someone so irreplaceably precious, so vibrant, that it felt like your entire world was dark and empty without her! The pain of losing her tears you apart day in and day out, and you wish with all your heart you could see her again, even if just one more time!"

Kousei gulped, and tried to utter a reply, but the lump in his throat was so big by now, and his tongue tied up from the grim reminder of Kaori's cruel fate, that he simply let his tears flow as Strange comforted him.

"Kousei, please, you saw what happened to myself and the other people of my world when I let that obsession take me down a dark path!" Strange continued. "I lost myself, my friends, my mentor, and my entire universe! Kousei, I know how you feel more than anyone! And I hear you when you say what you think you want! But it is not what you want, and getting your wish granted would only deepen the scar Kaori's demise left upon your soul!"

Kousei looked down at the ground, his eyes closed and his tears continuing to pepper his blue suit with small stains. The Watcher looked on in great pity, and was moved by Strange's guidance towards the young pianist.

"I understand," Arima's voice spoke softly. "I won't wish for that again."

"Kousei," the Watcher's voice interjected. "What you went through in your timeline is not the full story."

Kousei raised his head, looking into the Watcher's glowing white eyes. "What do you mean?" he sniffed.

"Let me show you," the Watcher said with a smile. Waving his large hand, he opened another one of those weird "windows" that Kousei quickly deduced was playing back events from his own past. Kousei saw his five-year-old self awkwardly marching onto the stage where he'd had his first performance, before knocking over the piano bench and emitting laughter from the audience.

"Yeah yeah, I know," Kousei waved his hand dismissively. "This is where I unintentionally captivated Kaori's heart with my playing."

"There's more to it than that," the Watcher told him. "Look here."

Zooming in on the seat next to Kaori's, Kousei saw a girl with short black hair and hazel brown eyes starting to nod off. Then, as Kousei heard the first notes of the piece he'd played that day, he saw the girl's head bounce up and her eyes fill with wonder as she listened to his short yet eloquent piece.

And then Kousei cringed as he saw her erupt into tears once his piece was done.

"This must be the girl Kaori was referring to in her last letter." Kousei thought to himself.

"Does her face look familiar to you?" the Watcher hinted. "A certain rival of yours perhaps?"

Kousei's eyes widened in understanding. "No way! That...that was Emi?!"

"Yes indeed, Arima," Strange Supreme nodded.

"And that's not the end of it," the Watcher chuckled as he made the window into time play back a conversation between Emi and her instructor Ms. Yuriko Ochiai.

"So, it was this boy's playing that inspired you to pursue piano in the first place, huh?" Ochiai said in amazement.

"Yes, it would seem so," Kousei's self-proclaimed rival declared. Then, Kousei saw a mischievous smile flicker across her face, and her hazel brown eyes catch a glint of cunning.

"And I must admit...despite my envy, I can't help but notice Arima is quite handsome," Emi divulged to her mentor. "Perhaps one day him and I can grab some refreshments together after a competition."

"Wait, WHAT?!" Kousei cried, and both the Watcher and Strange Supreme laughed.

"No way! I could've sworn she hated me! She had a crush on me that entire time?!"

"So profound, isn't it?" the Watcher said. "How even just one life undeniably impacts the lives of so many others."

"I must commend you, Arima," Strange praised. "You had much better luck with the ladies in your timeline than I did."

"Yeah no kidd-iiiiinnnnnng..." Arima began to retort, his voice trailing off as he realized he'd maybe said something a bit too harsh.

Strange glared at him in mock irritation. "I hope you enjoy being a minstrel to the god of war. What's his name...Kratos?"

"No no no no no, wait, I'm sorry!" Kousei frantically apologized. "I didn't mean that! I—!"

Strange burst out laughing again. "I'm kidding, Arima! Relax!"

"That was a little too convincing, Stephen," The Watcher winked.

"You have had more than a wonderful life, Kousei," Strange said proudly. "Don't you dare stand there and try to tell us otherwise. Your playing, your resilience, your determination, helped many around you rise up and overcome their own obstacles."

Kousei smiled, most of his tears gone by now and his heart beat returned to a normal rate.

"You're right," he told both of his new mentors. "I guess I never really thought my playing made any difference. Thank you...both of you. I needed this."

Finding his backpack from the bunker, Kousei recovered it and set it on his shoulder.

"I'm ready to go to whatever timeline you send me," he declared. "Even if it's my old timeline where everything is destroyed, I'll make it work somehow."

The Watcher and Strange Supreme exchanged a friendly glance. Then, the Watcher opened a portal and bid Arima to step into it.

Stepping through with the Watcher and Strange Supreme following close behind, Kousei saw he was outdoors on a street with only a few cars parked at the curb, and cherry blossoms in full bloom falling down onto the paved road. Upon further observation, Kousei saw what appeared to be some shrubs and other smaller trees lining a walkway into a park on his left. Something about this whole place looked oddly familiar...and then Kousei realized.

"I...don't understand," Kousei said. "Is this my timeline before Ultron won?"

Strange Supreme thought about his answer. "Eh...not quite."

Kousei hesitated, then asked the question he figured would have a bad answer anyway.

"Is Kaori still gone in this timeline?"

"No," the Watcher replied. "But you are."

Kousei straightened up, startled. "Wait, what do you mean? Where are we exactly?"

The Watcher smiled down at the young pianist.

"On a world that lost their Arima."

Kousei's heart skipped a beat. His eyes grew wide and his body was taken over by a sense of cautious yet beyond excited happiness.

"And I think," Strange Supreme said. "There's someone in that park waiting to meet you."

Right as Strange finished that sentence, Kousei's ears detected the sound of a melodica playing a simple yet captivating melody. As the notes tinkled in the breeze before landing on his eardrums, the hairs on the back of Kousei's neck rose.

Do-FA, Do-Fa-SO, Do-La, Te-Do DO!

Te, Te-Te-Te La So Fa, La FA!

Do-FA, Do-Fa-SO, Do-La, Te-Do DO!

Te, Te-Te-Te La So Fa, La FA!

There was no mistaking it.

This was the exact same melody, in the same key signature of F Major, pitch for pitch, note for note, accent for accent, that Kaori had played all those months ago when they'd first met.

"Is that...is that—!" Kousei stammered, fearful to speak the words lest they be untrue.

"Well, why don't you go and see for yourself? Strange invited, beckoning Arima to walk down the dirt path into the park.

Kousei was frozen at first, not daring to move one muscle lest he shatter this new reality that seemed too good to be true. But as his legs wobbled forward, he gazed about him and saw a familiar pair of yellow high heels and gray leggings hanging from a nearby tree.

Then he shuddered...probably best to leave those alone this time around.

As Arima walked farther into the park, he traced the heavenly sound of the melodica to a small, gray dome that was one of the park's obvious play structures. His eyes followed up the front of the domed structure, to the middle windows, to the top...

Where his gaze fell upon the unmistakable, blonde-haired form of Kaori Miyazono.

Her long, beautiful blonde hair, pulled into a tight ponytail, seemed to sparkle as the daylight illuminated the dazzling locks. Her bare feet pattered gently on the plastic of the play structure, as her legs swayed and danced to the rhythm of the music she played in a carefree manner. Even from this distance, Kousei caught a tiny glint of sunlight reflecting off of one of her manicured fingernails. Her white and pink skirt, though a simple garment, encapsulated her enchanting beauty perfectly.

Kousei couldn't believe it. His eyes were welling up with joyful, elated tears.

This was his precious Kaori alright. So beautiful, so graceful, and so...alive.

Kousei just stood there for a few moments and even felt his knees turning to jelly. What was he to do? Scream out her name? Run to the top of that play structure and sweep her off her feet like a Disney prince? Simply wait for her to turn around?

Then, Kousei remembered what he'd done the first time, and cautiously pulled out his cell phone, taking care not to make too much noise. As Kousei readied his camera and raised his phone, however, he suddenly felt Strange's hand bat his wrist downward, and he looked at the sorcerer in confusion. A gust of wind abruptly blew through the park, and Kousei cringed as he quickly lowered his phone whilst he and Strange averted their eyes.

"NOPE!" he thought. "We are NOT going through that again!"

The inconvenient gust of wind died down as quickly as it had come, and Strange Supreme nodded at Arima with a playful smirk on his face.

"Now you can take the picture," was the sorcerer's silent message.

As Kaori pulled her skirt back down, she cursed herself. Yes, she had somewhat longer skirts at home sure, but it was hot today blast it! Just then, she heard the click of a camera shutter behind her and turned briskly on her heel.

"Hey, what are you—HUH!"

Kaori froze.

Her big, dark pearly eyes locked with Kousei's diamond blue eyes.

A million questions began running through Kaori's mind as her vocal cords refused to formulate a sound and her hands shook gripping the melodica. But then, she cared nothing for any answers to those questions as Kousei's dashing, kind smile melted her heart.

Finally, Kaori managed to speak.

"What—what is this?" she stammered. "Are you a ghost? Am I in Heaven already? How is this possible?!"

"I wouldn't be surprised if we're in Heaven," Kousei answered. "After all...that's where the angels live."

Kaori felt a tear leak from her eye, and she giggled at the pianist's sweet but cheesy compliment.

"Yup, I'm definitely not dreaming," she said. "Only you would say something that dumb."

Kousei chuckled. "I'm a jackass, remember? It's what I do."

Wanting to make sure this wondrous miracle was indeed not a dream, Kaori took a step forward, only to have her foot slip on the rounded top of the play structure. She yelped in surprise as she began to slide down the plastic dome.

"KAORI!" Kousei cried.

The next thing Kaori knew, she was being cradled in the arms of her long-lost accompanist, who had caught her just in the nick of time before she hit the ground. Kousei and Kaori locked eyes once again, speechless as to what was happening. Kaori extended a finger, and pulled it back in startlement after it touched Kousei's shirt sleeve. Yup, he was here in the flesh alright. Then, as Kousei set her down, he straightened his shoulders and tensed his muscles.

"Kaori...," he said between sobs. "I've missed you! So much!"

Kaori was no helpless romantic by any means. But in this magical moment, her heart was nothing but putty in the hands of Arima. Her face grew red as she heard the affectionate words from the boy she'd thought she'd lost two months ago.

"I've missed you too, Kousei," she said happily as she wiped away her tears.

Kousei looked her right in the eye, his face filled with fear of rejection yet confident resolve.

"Kaori...I...I LOVE YOU!"

Kaori was utterly helpless by now as she heard those three words she'd wished she'd told the Kousei in this universe sooner. The words she'd only heard from him via a letter he'd written and planned to send her before his untimely death. But suddenly, Kousei fell to his knees and began begging Kaori for another chance to play by her side.

"Please Kaori," Kousei's voice quaked. "Let me play with you just one more time! Even if I'm just Friend A—even if I'm just Watari's stand-in—even if I'm just your accompanist, I want to—!"

Kousei's pleas were cut short as Kaori gripped him by the shoulders, stood him up and wrapped him in a tight, loving embrace. Kousei was taken aback at first, but then returned the embrace, running his fingers through her soft, silky blonde hair.

"Don't you EVER die on me again, do you understand?!" Kaori screamed. "And don't just demote yourself to Watari's stand-in! Not ever!"

"I won't, I won't!" Kousei sobbed as he felt the warm touch of Kaori's face against his. Eventually, the two musicians turned to Strange Supreme, who had been attending to some details during their emotional reunion.

"Who—who are you?" Kaori's voice quivered. "How did you and Kousei get here? Are you some type of necromancer?"

"Not exactly," Strange said, amused but also embarrassed. "I think it'd be better for him to explain. But for now, let's just say that this timeline of yours is not the only one." Strange Supreme then turned to Kousei.

"I cast some harmless yet loaded spells changing details such as the paperwork regarding your "death" in this universe," Strange informed Arima. "I'll need to pay a visit to the version of myself in this universe to let him know nothing is amiss. You can still do things like return to school and perform in public. But, fair warning, you'll have quite a bit of explaining to do."

"No problem, sir," Kousei sniffed. "Thank you...thank you so much!"

"Don't mention it, Arima," Strange waved his hand. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe you two have some catching up to do."

As Strange walked back over to the Watcher, he smiled longingly as he heard the teases, jokes, and laughter of the two young, star-crossed lovers who'd been reunited at last. The Watcher smiled approvingly, thanking Strange for his help.

"In all the multiverse, there are few sights as wonderful as this," the Watcher asserted as he watched Kousei twirl Kaori in the grass. "The true resilience, power, and strength of love."

"You can say that again," Strange agreed as he witnessed the spectacle.

"If you want, I can find a timeline where Christine is alive," the Watcher offered. "You can at least see her again should you want to."

Strange briefly considered it, but politely declined the offer.

"If I ever want to do such a thing, I'll let you know," he told the Watcher as he looked back at Kousei and Kaori. "But for now, helping heal someone else's wound is enough."

The Watcher and Strange Supreme disappeared back into the portal, leaving Kousei and Kaori alone to frolic and dance together on the clear, sunny spring day. Such was the power of love.

Not even the boundaries of the multiverse could contain it.

..........................................

Just a half hour later, Kousei sat on the beach near his old home with Kaori cuddled up to his shoulder. They'd taken off their shoes and socks, and allowed the waves to gently lap at their heels. 

As the two musicians basked in the warm spring sun, Kousei gently stroked Kaori's silky hair, feeling the magical softness between his fingers. Kaori, in turn, couldn't stop brushing Arima's mop of fuzzy black hair. Their free hands held one another, fingers laced tightly as Kaori and Kousei pressed their foreheads together, each one feeling the warmth and affection of the other.

Kousei's heart fluttered in and out of his chest as he felt Kaori's skin against his, and all his sadness faded away at the sound of her giggles. He knew the next few weeks would be stressful and full of frantic explanations. Perhaps even some painstaking interviews with news outlets.

But he didn't care.

For Kaori had already told him she was not sick with the illness she'd had in his old timeline. Which meant she'd be here to stay.

"I wish I could tell you your mom is alive in this new timeline," Kaori spoke up. "The pain of losing her must be unbearable for you."

"Yes, it hurt," Kousei admitted. "But you helped me find healing. And for that, I will always be grateful."

"You better not jump in the street to save someone again," Kaori warned, pinching his arm in an affectionate manner. "Cause it seems even from another timeline you can't run away from someone in need."

"That's what the other me did?" Kousei asked, surprised.

"You bet," Kaori giggled. "But I'm only joking of course. I'm glad that little boy survived so he can continue playing music."

"I see," Kousei conceded. "Okay, I won't do that. As long as you don't leave me a heartbreaking confession letter after you die."

"Me?!" Kaori laughed. "You're the one who was planning to only leave me a love letter the day you left to study in Europe! Ms. Hiroko is gonna be furious with you when she sees you!"

"Alright, fine, fair enough," Kousei chuckled. "I guess the other me in this timeline is still a dimwit."

The reunited lovers continued sharing their embrace as the pleasant evening breeze brought the scent of the ocean to their noses.

"You steal my leggings, accidentally take a picture of me when my skirt gets blown up, botch our first duet, die before we're going to play a third, and the first thing you do when you come back from another universe is ask me out?" Kaori teased. "You really are a jackass."

Kousei chuckled. "Well, what? Would you prefer Watari instead? Oh wait..."

Kaori gave his shoulder a light punch. "That's not nice."

"Neither was calling me Friend A," Kousei said, only joking of course. However, that statement emitted some tears from the violinist.

"You were never just Friend A to me, Kousei," Kaori wept. "And I am so, so sorry for making you think otherwise!"

"It's okay, Kaori!" Kousei comforted her. "I don't care that you lied! Sure, maybe you could've done something different, but so what? No use dwelling on what's already past!"

Kaori gazed up at him, still weeping. "Are...are you sure?"

"Yes, Kaori!" Kousei assured her, hugging her with another tight squeeze. "We have each other again. And that's all that matters."

"You know Tsubaki is probably going to kill you, right?" Kaori cautioned. "She was still head over heels for you in this universe."

"Oh, let her try," Kousei said with a twinkle in his eye. "Once I get her some new softball gear I'm sure she'll calm down."

Kaori giggled and opened her eyes, gazing into the sparkling, sky-blue eyes of her beloved accompanist. Kousei stared back, equally enraptured by the violinist's beauty. Then, he felt Kaori let go of his other hand and put her delicate, lukewarm palm on his cheek.

"Come here," she beckoned, gently pulling his lips toward hers.

Kousei was somewhat flustered at first, and he backed away just a bit, slightly startled. Kaori noticed this and turned away in mild shame.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "Too soon? I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

But Kousei saw she didn't mean harm, and just smiled back.

"No, it's fine," he assured her. "I was just caught a bit off guard. That's all. Go ahead."

Kaori looked back at him. "You sure?"

"A kiss from the most gorgeous violinist I've met? Of course!" Kousei winked.

"Oh stop it, you idiot," Kaori chuckled, and then reached for his face again, her cool hand guiding his lips to hers.

As Kousei's mouth met with Kaori's smooth, rosy lips, Kousei closed his eyes and blissfully basked in the amazing feeling of her kiss. It was like a whole new world—or universe for that matter—had opened up to him. How Kousei wished he'd had the Time Stone so he could've looped this amazing, glorious feeling, even if just for a few seconds! But as the kiss ended, Kousei was more than grateful for that moment even if it'd been temporary.

After all, with any luck, there'd be more like it.

"So, you really still want to play another duet already, huh?" Kaori teased.

"Oh, I'll think of something soon enough," Kousei said. "Until then, let's just stay here a little while longer."