Chapter 63 The Foreigner

"Wei," a familiar voice said from behind him. "Oh Wei Wei."

Wei turned to find the blue-eyed foreigner behind him. He was dressed much the same as the first time they had met: some white Nike sneakers, jeans and a perfectly ironed, white button-up shirt. "As you know, I prefer to go by just Wei, rather than my full name: Wei Wei."

"Well Wei," he said, while running a hand through his short blonde hair. "What are you doing, wasting time here?"

"Killing Japanese is never a waste of time!" Wei snapped, while taking a close look at his companion and benefactor. There did not seem to be anything too unusual about him, but clearly that was deception on his part. Wei wondered if it was even really a "he" or if the gender was an assumed form. "And I think the real question is what did you do here?"

"Are you trying to accuse me of something?" The foreigner asked, while taking a sip of his Slurpee.

Where did that come from? Wei wondered to himself absently. "Well, the city is empty and I know I didn't do it. You're the only one here so by process of elimination that leaves you. That and the floating car behind me."

"Oh right," the other said and Wei heard the Honda set down gently behind him.

"So what happened to the people?" Wei asked, not certain how an answer to that would make him feel.

"They're gone."

"Gone or dead?"

"Both."

Wei looked into the foreigner's eyes, trying to read something in their azure depths. It was a wasted effort.

"So you have something against them?" Wei asked, probing for more information.

"Oh I have views similar to yours; just much more extreme. Don't be too disappointed about missing it all."

Wei could not help but feel some glee at this news despite the presence of the westerner and his disturbing powers. "I have something I need to ask you. Did you know from the start that I would be unable to change history? I do not appreciate being made a fool."

Wei's voice contained an unspoken threat, but he was honestly uncertain what he could do against his benefactor.

The westerner turned so that his face was hidden in the night's shadows.

"I knew. It couldn't be otherwise," he answered in a voice that suddenly sounded impossibly ancient. As though he had witnessed the Sun and the stars flare into life. As though he had been here always and forever. "You need to understand, everything that happened already happened 500 years ago. If I had not rendered my assistance the wheels of time would be broken. It was necessary for you to travel to the past to assure the safety of the future."

"Is there a particular reason you couldn't tell me this?" Wei demanded. "If you wanted me to go back in time and kill thousands upon thousands of Japanese to preserve reality, I would have eagerly offered my services. You kept me ignorant though and dangled a false hope in front of me!"

"Wei," the foreigner began in a soft almost apologetic voice. "When you went back you did not know the outcome. Your ignorance guaranteed your actions would remain the same. All that you've done was exactly what you were supposed to do. China and reality continue to exist precisely because you acted without knowing the outcome. This isn't a cruel manipulation; it is a matter of preserving this reality."

Wei was silent for a few moments as he digested this. His pride was deeply stung by this...he hesitated to use the word betrayal but that is what it felt like. At the same time though, remembering the dragon's words, it matched up perfectly with what the westerner said, if only through the perspective of the here and now.

"Very well. I will accept this explanation," Wei said reluctantly. "However, I don't believe I ever got your name."

"Ah, but what's in a name?" The other said turning so that Wei could see his smile while he played with his straw to break whatever icy obstruction was blocking consumption of the Slurpee.

Wei rolled his eyes. "Well if you are going to insist on playing coy, I will name you myself. You look vaguely similar to an American Marine I remember, named Brian; he was a member of the flying tigers, so I will name you after him."

"And a fine name it is," the newly christened Brian responded, though Wei noted an actual acceptance was never given. "But instead of being concerned about how to address me, you may want to ask yourself where Sesshoumaru is."

Wei felt a dread premonition coming over him. "Where is Sesshoumaru?"

"Why, he is in Nanking of course, looking around for your tree."

Wei felt the pit of his stomach drop and a sense of vertigo overwhelm him. Without the anchor his tree provided, he would lose his connection to this world.

Reading the obvious worry on Wei's face, Brian stated, "Don't worry, I know you can't return quickly, so I've come to offer you my aid in this matter."

"You can get me back?" Wei asked, hope making him suddenly lightheaded.

"Obviously, look to your right."

Completely unnoticed by Wei, a door had appeared out of nowhere. It had no overtly distinguishing features aside from its ability to pop out of thin air; roughly seven feet tall, hewn brown wood, with an oval brass doorknob.

"Seriously, this will get me home?" Wei asked, unable to keep doubt out of his voice.

"Absolutely," Brian answered. "Just step right through."

Wei reached for the knob, but paused a moment "I suppose I owe you my thanks. You've been a good...friend with all you've done for me."

"Hey," Brian said. "Anything for a friend."