Eden of destruction here. Finally! The third chapter has arrived! Sorry for such a long delay but we've been in the process of moving and unmoving and next week we leave on vacation, so I'm trying to get as meany chapters finished as possible. Please enjoy and review.
Chapter Three: Belledearra
Irriyana made it to Belledearra's temple by the next morning. She was relived to see the outline of the beautiful stone structure in the morning fog. As she reached the steps she collapsed from exhaustion and lay there panting like a dog for a moment, until a young girl with medium length red hair and green eyes came down the stairs. "Oh my, are you alright?" She asked knelling next to Irriyana.
"I'm not sure, I'm so tired…" Irriyana started but could not finish because her eyes welled up with tears. "I…need sanctuary…" She whispered.
"Yukina! Summon Belledearra! I need help!" Katterina called. "Don't worry, everything will be alright, you're safe now. My name is Katterina, what's yours?" The girl introduced herself trying to comfort Irriyana.
"I'm Irriyana Phoenix, and I believe I may be in grave danger." Irriyana gasped.
Yukina and the Priestess Belledearra came to Katterina's aide immediately. "Well bless my soul, it's Irriyana Phoenix! I haven't seen her since her mother died almost seventeen years ago." Belledearra announced as they helped the panic stricken girl to her feet.
"She has asked for our sanctuary Priestess." Katterina told Belledearra.
"Well, I believe we can accommodate her then." Belledearra smiled as they helped Irriyana into the temple.
"Belledearra, my brothers and I need your help…" Irriyana started.
"I know. Detron has been up to some horrible things as of late. Your mother's spirit has told me much about your brother's dealings. She told me of your visit here as well." Belledearra reassured the young lady. "Genkai notified me of some strange behavior from your family too. She's been watching over you for quite some time now."
"Who is Genkai?"
"Genkai is Priestess Belledearra's cousin." Yukina told her, as she set down a tray of tea in front of Belledearra.
"I asked her to keep an extra eye out for you. By your mother's request of course. Genkai tells me you've been doing some interesting things…such as sparing the life of Hiei…"
"…I couldn't help it…"
"It's natural for a girl like you to be…shall we say fascinated by a boy of the same race as you. Especially when it's so rare to know one outside of your family." Belledearra explained to Irriyana.
"Belledearra they've arrived!" Yukina interrupted excitedly. "Kazuma is here!"
"And you look wonderful darling! Go and meet him!" Belledearra encouraged her.
"Hiei is with them." Irriyana remarked.
"Yes he is. Is that a problem for you my dear?" Belledearra wondered handing the young lady a cup of tea.
"I'm afraid it will become a problem in the future. Once he finds out what I really am."
"Then it's my job to make sure that never happens." Another woman said from the shadows of the room.
"Irriyana Phoenix, this is my cousin Genkai. She is one of the few who knew your mother like I did…excuse me... I still do." Belledearra almost awkwardly corrected herself.
"It's nice to meet you Genkai." Irriyana said as the frail looking woman revealed herself.
"You look just like your mother Portia, with a hint of your father Maximus." Genkai replied as she took a closer look at Irriyana.
"Belledearra so nice to see you again!" Kurama greeted as the Urameshi team entered the vast temple, "And you as well Miss Phoenix, we were quite surprised by your…sudden disappearance, and wondered how you had faired during the night."
"I was fine. Unlike many I can defend myself if necessary." Irriyana commented smugly.
"We can see that." Hiei snapped.
"There's no reason to be hostile Hiei. After all you were the one who insisted on searching for her after she'd been gone an hour and wasn't scared back to us." Kuwabara laughed.
"Gentle men if you please, miss Phoenix needs some rest." Belledearra said standing up and ushering the young men out of the living quarters of her temple.
"Come this way Irriyana, I'll show you where your room is." Genkai offered, helping her out of her chair. "You will be safe here, there's no need to worry. My cousin is the best at what she does, and that is hiding people."
"She doesn't know who is after me…"
"But I do. The man they sent after you is no match for the Urameshi team. Genkai explained as she opened the door to a modestly decorated room. "This will be your room until Yukina is married. But by then you may not need it anymore."
Irriyana looked at her, "After I help my brothers I have every intention of returning to pay off my debt to the Priestess. My mother did so twenty years ago, and to leave with out returning the favor would break her heart."
"how did you know of this?" Genkai wondered astonished.
"Tenchu used to tell me about her. How much she loved it here. Detron was born here, my father told me that. Tenchu told me Detron ran away once, and my mother had to beg Belledearra to help her find him." Irriyana told Genkai as she got comfortable in the bed.
"Ah Tenchu, he got into some mischief himself as I recall. But Detron, he's been a destroyer all his life you know. He nearly killed you when you were born." Genkai confided in her.
"He still does try to kill me." Irriyana whispered as she drifted off to sleep.