Hi everyone

I know it has been a long time since I have updated, but things have been a tough for me. I finished University and have been struggling ever since trying to get a job, keep drawing, and also have time to write. I try to my best to write and draw, but with no income on either it is very difficult for me to continue. So yes I am updating it is just very slow.

I do have a proposal to help with updates and also try and actually make a small amount of income. I would like to create a small manga, updated every 2 weeks. Something you could download and pay for, so that I can eat. I would update a 1 chapter (20pg) 1 week and the one of the fanfiction the 2nd week, and so on. But the only way I can do this if enough people are willing to go along with it. I have put up a link on my profile to the first few test pages. You can decide from there if it is worth it, and PM me about any questions. I have put up a poll on my profile as well.

Edit: for some reason the link isn't showing up properly so I here it is, just take out the spaces: lilbakasaru. wordpress 2016 / 06 /12 /elysian-test-pages /

I will still update of course, but it will be slow, and will be based on when I have time. Hope you all enjoy this chapter.

(unbetaed)

I have changed this fic to an alpha/beta/omega theme, I have made the changes in the previous chapters, but if I missed anything do tell me.

Chapter 4: To the Mountain top

Yuki no yama was a place of legend, the myth is that it was somewhere amongst those cluster of mountains, that a koi fish swam up a waterfall and with the praise of the gods became a dragon. It was only a story, but Inuyasha knew that this land was scared to the youkai. It was a neutral zone controlled by shaman's and high priests, and many lords came there to negotiate treaties, marriages, and even births. This region was special to all youkai, and they would not desecrate it by spilling blood.

Inuyasha himself had never been there, although many young warriors made a pilgrimage to the mountains to get a blessing; but he had never bothered with it.

The carriage ride had been long, they spend most of it on the road and he simply slept through it, with Mokomoko-sama wrapped around him, keeping him comfortable. They only stopped to get to eat, and stretch their legs after sitting for a long time. Inuyasha was still worn out from the heat and could barely keep himself awake. Sesshoumaru did not have that problem, he dutifully watched the road, while Ah-Un pulled the carriage. There were no servants or guards accompanying, expect Jaken who sat at the front holding Ah-Un's reigns. Not that they needed any guards, not many demons could stand against either one of them, and Inuyasha certainly didn't want any one picking up after him.

He could do that himself, he thought derisively.

When they drove over a particularly rough bump, Inuyasha grimaced and slowly woke up. His golden eyes bleary with sleep. He snuggled himself closer to mokomoko and slowly sat up, he looked out the carriage window taking in his new surroundings. The forest had given away to more laugh terrain, the path had been cleared to create a trail that led up to the mountains. He rubbed his eyes and then turned to his brother.

"How much further?" he asked.

"Not long, we will arrive by tonight. The palace is at the peak and the carriage won't take us all the way. There is a rest stop where we will leave Ah-Un and then take an aerial carriage up to the peak."

"Aerial carriage?" Inuyasha had never heard of one those before.

"For safety, the mountain pass is treacherous and maze like, without a proper guide it is easy to get lost."

Inuyasha arched an eyebrow, "You had your pilgrimage here didn't you?" he asked.

"Yes, but the path is long and can take a weeks to get through. The carriage ride is a more direct route."

"Then why didn't you take the aerial route as well?" the hanyou asked.

"The maze is a test of your resolve, those that make it are worthy in receiving a blessing from the gods."

Inuyasha hummed thoughtfully. "How long did it take you?" he asked.

"Three days," he answered simply, as if making a journey that would have taken the average demon weeks to finish in just three days was no big deal.

Inuyasha couldn't help but let out a annoyed huff, and went to stare back out the window.

"Father did it in just one."

This had Inuyasha stumped, he turned his brother in shock. "What, he did it one day?!" he shouted in disbelieve.

Sesshoumaru let out an uncharacteristic snort. "Father liked showing off."

'Showing off' yeah that was one way to put it, Inuyasha let out a weary sigh and then turned to look out the window again. This was annoying him more then he thought it should, Inuyasha realised that he never took part in the pilgrimage, mostly because all his life he thought he wouldn't be worthy of it. A hanyou trying to get a blessing of the high-priests it was a laughable idea; but knowing that both his brother and father had completed this journey made him think about all the things he didn't do.

Although Inuyasha told himself that he would never let fear rule him again, but he had missed out on such an important part of his life; just because he felt that he wouldn't be accepted. He still felt that way, that's why taking this journey made him feel a little nervous. Something that Sesshoumaru obviously felt since, mokomoko-sama gave him a reassuring squeeze.

"It is never too late for you take the journey yourself Otouto, the pilgrimage is a right for all youkai, hanyou or otherwise," Sesshoumaru said, his hand reaching across to gently grasp his face, and pulled him so that he was facing him again. "All that matters is your resolve little brother," he ran his fingers across his cheek. "Something I know you have a lot of."

Inuyasha couldn't help but feel a blush bloom across his face, he wanted move away but his locked into Sesshoumaru's gaze. Golden eyes staring into each other, and the hanyou could see the sincerity in them. It was strange to know that his brother had this much faith in him. But he wasn't just his Not being able to take his brother's gaze anymore he finally looked away, and Sesshoumaru let him go with a small smile. Inuyasha knew he was still blushing.

The moment was broken when he heard Jaken's annoyed squawk coming from the front of the carriage.

"Master Sesshoumaru, we have arrived!" he shouted.

Inuyasha looked outside and noticed that carriage was slowing down, and then with small lurch came to a final stop. A few moments later, the carriage door on Sesshoumaru's side opened and the Daiyoukai steeped out as gracefully as always. Inuyasha scooted closer to the door, his new layered kimono getting tangled under his feet as he tried to hurry out. Inuyasha lost his footing and stumbled out of carriage and straight into his brothers arms. He 'eeped' in embarrassment squirmed in Sesshoumaru's hold until the older demon finally let him go with a smile.

Inuyasha glared at him from the side, knowing that Sesshoumaru was enjoying himself way too much. The Hanyou was about the reprimand the older youkai, when he realised that Mokomoko-sama was still wrapped around his shoulders, almost possessively. He was about to take the furry appendage off, when Sesshoumaru started to walk towards a nearby hut.

"Come Otouto," the Daiyoukai said gesturing to a building, were a figure dressed in white clothes was waiting for them.

Closer they got, Inuyasha realised that figure was a female raccoon youkai, and that they white robe was covered in talismans. She was a shaman. "Good evening Lord Sesshoumaru you were expected, and this is?" she asked looking at him.

"Gate keeper. This is my mate, Lord Inuyasha, son of Inu no Taisho, prince of the western lands," Sesshoumaru answered for him, with a hand firmly pressed against his back.

The gate keeper smiled and gave a low bow. "Welcome Lord Inuyasha, congratulations on your mating. The carriage is already here, just let your servant load your luggage in first my Lords."

Sesshoumaru nodded, Inuyasha turned around and his eyebrows widened in surprise when he saw Jaken, stumble towards them carrying several chests. The gate keeper led them towards the building, it looked like an average hut, surrounded by a dense amount of large trees and shrubbery so that he couldn't see what was behind, expect clouds. The gate keeper opened the door to a hut, leading them inside open room, that was sparsely decorated. A small table was tucked into the corner, next to it a rolled up futon, the only other item was large shelf filled to the brim with scrolls.

The gate keeper kept moving, leading through the big room to another door. Inuyasha noticed that it had a large seal carved into the wood. It was a seal to keep creatures out, the gate keep took out a knife and gave a quick jab onto her index finger so that it bled. She pressed her bloody finger against the engraving, tracing the marking. Suddenly the door swung open automatically, to a view that had Inuyasha gasping in amazement.

It was a sheer drop.

The hut was placed right against a cliff side, the hanyou took a few steps forward, and his golden eyes widened when he noticed how far it went down, below it was pitch black, but he could hear the loud sound of rushing water. He looked up and noticed a thick rope leading into the clouds, squinted to get a better look, but the it was too thick for him to see anything. Inuyasha was surprised that he hadn't sensed any of this before, that seal of the door must be concealment barrier that was released with the gate keepers blood.

"Here my Lords," the gate keeper said, Inuyasha turned around and saw the carriage to his left with Jaken struggling to load the luggage inside.

Inuyasha walked towards the carriage, and took a hesitant step inside it. It rocked with every step he took and hanyou could feel the claws of his toes digging into the wood beneath him. Sesshoumaru stepped in behind him, causing the carriage to rock some more, which only put Inuyasha on edge. There was cushioned bench and he hurried over to it and sat down, Sesshoumaru sat down next to him.

"Have a good trip my Lords," the gate keeper said, and closed the doors behind them.

Inuyasha watched as she went to some sort of contraption, and pulled a leaver down. The carriage lurched violently and started to move.

"Breath brother, it is perfectly safe I promise," Inuyasha nearly jumped when he felt someone touch his arm. He looked down and realised that he was gripping Sesshoumaru's knee tightly and the older youkai had simply put his hand over his own in reassurance.

" I don't understand why couldn't you just take us up with you chi..." Inuyasha whimpered out, hating being in this rickety contraption.

Sesshoumaru looked out of the window, watching the dense clouds move past them. "The mountain range is made to confuse your senses, and the clouds are so dense that you can't see more than a foot in front of you. Trust me this is safest and fastest way to travel."

Inuyasha guessed he was right, he couldn't see anything but white outside the windows, he couldn't smell or hear anything either. No wonder it took some youkai weeks to reach the peak, there must be more to it then just simply going 'up'. But no matter how 'safe' Sesshoumaru said this method was, the constant rocking back and forth was really starting to mess with his stomach. He hunched his head down, pressing his nose into the thick fur of Mokomoko-sama that was still wrapped around him. Of course Mokomoko was filled with Sesshoumaru's scent, and it caused his omega nature to calm, making him just for that moment forget his troubles.

The Daiyoukai himself had not let go of his hand, obviously feeling his mates nervousness, and wanting to keep him calm.

Their surroundings started to darken as night fell, Jaken got up and lit the lantern that hung from the ceiling to give them light. Inuyasha looked out of the window and noticed that clouds were starting to thin out, revealing the mountains surrounding them. If he stuck his head out of the window he might even be able to see the stars, but he was still too scared to move. They continued to travel on, and soon Inuyasha could see the peaks of the other mountains, they must be close to the top.

It was already getting colder, and the air felt thinner too; not that it effected the demons. They were hardier creatures, and while human's would find this altitude damaging to their bodies, youkai had no difficulty being up here. Thinking about it, Inuyasha didn't know of any human that managed to get a blessing from the priests. This was purely a place for youkai.

"We've arrived," Sesshoumaru said, breaking him out of his musings.

He looked back out of the window. It was pitch black, but there dots of lights just bright enough to illuminate the side of the cliff. Inuyasha quickly realised that those light were actually from windows, as the whole palace was carved out of the mountain top. A large gate came into view and Inuyasha admired the spiral columns that were carved out of the mountain face, the closer he got the more detail he could make out. Such as the stone ivy that covered the 'walls', there were statues depicting deities and stone lanterns illuminating the way to the gate. His eyes widened further when he realised two groves were coming from inside the gate leading to edge of the cliff, with water, that was rushing down the mountain like a waterfall.

The carriage came to a slow stop with a heavy creak, Jaken went to the doors and opened it, two white haired Kitsune youkai were waiting for them. Both dressed in white like the gatekeeper at the hut. They bowed lowly in greeting when the two Lords stepped out of the carriage.

"Welcome Princes of the Western lands," they greeted.

"My name is Kii," said the male kitsune.

"My name is Mii," said the female kitsune, both beta youkai.

Twins. They both sported similar looking hair, long enough to cover their eyes, and black swirling youkai markings.

"We will be your guides my Lords," they said in unison.

Sesshoumaru nodded, "Who else is here?" he asked.

"Several families have already arrived my Lord, the wolfs of the east, the dragons of the north, and the panther tribe of the south," Kii replied.

"Several clans are still expected," Mii added. "But the night is still young."

"Wolves from the east? Kouga's clan is here?" Inuyasha butted in.

"Yes my lord," Mii said with a smile. "They are in one of the halls having a drink, would you like to see them?"

Inuyasha started to panic he hadn't seen Kouga since Kagome had left. He did not want to meet Kouga so suddenly especially with his new omega status. He had always put up such an alpha front in the past, and he knew that that mangy wolf would make fun of him if he saw him now.

"Er, no thank you. W-we will just see them tomorrow," he quickly stuttered out. "Where are we staying?"

"Of course my Lord Inuyasha, your room is ready for you," Mii answered with a bow.

She and her brother lead the way inside. The large heavy doors opened slowly to reveal a great hall. The walls were white granite, and more spiralling towers. He noticed that the groves led inside and then split leading down to two separate halls. There were lanterns everywhere illuminating the grand hall, there more were carving around each doorway and window; but in a language that Inuyasha didn't know.

The kitsune youkai led them down one of the halls, with the lantern lighting the wide space, with water rushing one side of the walkway. To a small door, Kii opened it to reveal a modest room with large comfy futon and a wardrobe to store their things, and a writing desk. Otherwise the room was plain. Another door which Inuyasha suspected led to what seemed to be a wet room. A window covered in a sati blinds, which was just sheer enough to show the sky outside. Mii went inside and lit the lanterns in the room, Jaken followed close behind struggling to carry their luggage and placed them as gently as he could by the wardrobe, before back stumbling out. He must have a room of his own.

Mii then went outside where her brother was, they both bowed and said their goodnights closing the door behind them.

Inuyasha realised suddenly that he and his brother were very much on their own. They hadn't been on alone since leaving their ancestral home. Jaken had been with them all the time throughout the trip, so this was strange for him. Even before they mated the only type of contact they had been silent meeting by a campfire, nothing intimate.

Now it had all changed.

He turned around and saw Sesshoumaru actually unpacking the chests, taking the delicate kimono's out and placing them inside the wardrobe. Inuyasha then remembered that he was still wearing Sesshoumaru's boa, he took it off and went to hand it to his brother.

"Here," he said, holding the furry appendage out the alpha to take.

Sesshoumaru looked up at him, and then at mokomoko, "Keep it for now, it will get colder wit nightfall. Here are you sleeping robes, put them on and let's get some rest, it will be long day in the morning."

Inuyasha was stumped, but kept the boa and took the robes off the other youkai. He went inside the wet room and changed. Inuyasha half expected the alpha to follow him, but he was glad that Sesshoumaru was giving him some space. He changed out of kimono and put his sleeping robe, then he went to the basin and washed his face, just so he could feel a little bit more refreshed. When he left the wet room Sesshoumaru was a already changed. He didn't look at the daiyoukai and put his folded kimono in the wardrobe. It was then he remembered that there was only one futon in the room.

Now that he wasn't under the control of his heat anymore, the thought about sharing a futon with Sesshoumaru made him feel a little nervous. Something the youkai could obviously since he stopped what he was doing and had turned to look at him.

"Otouto?"

"I-I can s-sleep somewhere else..." he stuttered out, feeling silly that he felt nervous about this.

Sesshoumaru let out a heavy sigh, he dropped the futon covers and slowly walked towards the hanyou.

"I realise that you are confused Inuyasha, but I want to make one thing clear, we are getting to know each other again," he took another step closer. "This time as mates, so things will be different but we are going at your pace."

Inuyasha felt a little loss for words. "I-I don't know... how to act around you anymore," he finally said.

"We were enemies for a long time, barely brothers, and now... you're my alpha. It's a big change... and I-I, " the hanyou felt frustrated, he gritted his teeth together in irritation.

Two arms reached out and enveloped Inuyasha, bring him into a warm hug. The omega couldn't help be drawn in, and press his nose against Sesshoumaru's neck and taking a deep calming breath. They stayed like this for a while Inuyasha tried to calm himself. He opened his eyes and gaze fell on the healing bite mark on Sesshoumaru's shoulder. The mark he had made.

Mating between youkai can be volatile, and deadly, because a part of them retreated back into their baser nature. And the mark being made such a vulnerable spot was a sign of trust. Inuyasha knew about youkai's who had marked each other on their upper arms, back, thigh... marks on the throat weren't as common. Yet Sesshoumaru had let him mark him there, if he remembered correctly Sesshoumaru had even pressed his head against his neck, showing that he trusted the hanyou not to rip his throat out. Sesshoumaru had literally put his life in Inuyasha's hands, and now he was doing the same with their future.

There was a lot put on his shoulders, but Sesshoumaru wasn't pressuring him. It was odd to see his brother being so patient. He couldn't help but smile. It was odd. With Kikiyo had asked him become human for her, for Kagome wanted him to live with her in her ear, but Sesshoumaru hadn't asked anything from him. Instead he had given him time, and kept on offering so much more.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of calm envelope him, maybe things would be changing for the better.

Hope you all enjoyed. Review and join the dark side we have cookies!