This chapter is a bit lengthy, but very necessary. I hope you lovely people enjoy reading my story as much as I'm writing it.

-Lady Huggins

Late afternoon to early evening rolls around; basking the Leaf Village in orange rays of light. Raven Uchiha stirs from her deep slumber; ice blue eyes taking in the warm rays of sunset. The well-deserved nap had not been well deserved at all! The sleep she had so desperately craved didn't come and go as smoothly as she would have liked. She actually felt worse than before!

Depression still gripped Raven's heart, in turn causing her body to still be on a huge high from anxiety and the nightmares just made her anxiety worsen; not allowing her brain to shut down either.

Maybe a well-deserved shower would help. Rolling out of bed, Raven stumbles into the bathroom and forces her lead-like-body to step into the shower once the water heats up and steam fills the bathroom. But her hazy brain didn't clear. If only the serenity of the hot shower and purifying steam could melt away the horrifyingly horrendous nightmares and plaguing memories.

Raven still thought about the words she had heard the strange man state while she had stood in the Hokage's office. He had seen her skills while watching her during the mission. He was upset for her unjust punishment all because of something that wasn't her fault. As a result, he had made clear she was his chosen one for a quest in his world.

Resting her forehead against the shower wall, Raven mournfully laments while sobbing from the plaguing memories! Her heart tremendously aches and her strength just snaps in two like a twig! Her life hung in the balance now and the only way out of the mess was by completing one more mission!

Raven's POV

An hour passes and I use the last of my mental strength to force my brain to send signals to my legs and feet so I could stumble my way into my room to dress in comfier clothes with the last ounce of care I had before numbly stumbling into the living room.

A knock at the front door got me perking my head up slightly. I numbly stumble in the direction of the door.

When I pulled open the door, however, I found Kiba, my best friend, standing on the other side with a smile on his face. Akamaru, his Great Pyrenees, stood beside him. He greets me warmly. "Hi, Raven."

I immediately broke down upon hearing Kiba's warm, kind greeting! He held his arms out to me, hands extended outwards, and he caught me before I hit the ground after stumbling into his arms! "Honey, I'm so sorry."

Kiba gently rocked me back and forth after I tucked my arms in. All I could do was sob like a helpless child! His mournful words caused a torent of emotions to rip through my soul and all I could do was sob! When I did finally recover, Kiba used his thumbs to wipe away my tears after I pulled back. "Honey, I'm so sorry." He told me mournfully. "I've been hearing about what happened during your mission and I came as soon as I could."

I didn't say anything. Honestly there was nothing I could say. My life now hung by a thread and Lady Tsunade hadn't mentioned the consequences for my failed mission - and honestly, I didn't know if my sensei would be merciful enough to keep the client from taking my life. If she was, I had no idea what she planned to do with me.

Kiba continued talking when I didn't say anything. Akamaru rubbed up against me, rubbing his head against the side of my torso while his master soothed my hurt and anxiety with gentle words.

A pair of footsteps clapped against the threshold. I peered over Kiba's shoulder to find a Jonin standing there with an unreadable look on his face. Kiba turned his head and slightly growled at the Jonin; Akamaru joining in. Neither one of them were pleased. Then Kiba snapped at the Jonin. "What do you want?!"

Kiba was the only one out of our friends who stood beside me each time I came back from a failed mission and there were only a few Jonin who stood beside me as well; everyone else had turned their backs. Honestly, I would have a couple loyal friends over a bunch of fake friends. "Lady Tsunade wants to see you both."

The Jonin's exit was as curt as his message. My heart thrummed with pain and a new wave of anxiety rose up inside. But Kiba turned back to face me and used his thumbs to wipe away the new wave of tears. "Everything will be okay, honey. You'll see." The assurity in Kiba's tone and words had my heart throbbing with a very small ounce of hope as tiny as a mustard seed!

I didn't utter a single word during our walk to the Hokage's office. Kiba kept a firm hold on my hand while we walked. The safety of my best friend's warm, comforting hand and soothing words were my lifeline! Until Kiba had shown up at my apartment, I felt as if I were drowning from all of the events prior to this afternoon until getting the chance to take a nap and shower - either one didn't help. Kiba gave my hand a comforting squeeze when I tightened my hold on his; afraid I would start drowning again! The only thing I allowed my brain to think about: any woman would be lucky to have Kiba as her boy friend! Kiba was kind, caring, protective; always standing up for what's right even if it meant losing friendships and relationships! He always made sure his teammates and friends were well taken care of before worrying about him self.

Kiba - though human, possessed some of the dominating qualities as an Alpha of a wolf pack when it came down to protecting his family and friends. Some of those qualities Kiba possessed tended to show during missions! He always kept his teammates behind him while smelling the air and the ground for the enemy before tracking them down - him or her if it was only one; if it was only one, though, Kiba didn't worry so much about keeping his teammates behind him after smelling him or out; odds always favored Kiba, it seemed. However when the enemy was three or higher, he would always keep his teammates at bay while smelling out the enemy before tracking them down. When he did; track them down, he would assess the situation and weigh the pros and cons in order to form a strategic battle that would end with the odds in his favor and the lives of his teammates still intact.

I had been so deep in thought, I didn't realize Kiba and I were close to the Hokage's office until my ears caught wind of the vibrations from my shoes clapping against the hallway floor leading to my sensei's office! And I fought to keep my face void of any emotions! Simultaneously, Kiba and I pushed open the office door; walking over the threshold into the room with Jonin, the client and the strange man who stood before Lady Tsunade! All eyes locked on Kiba and I. Thankfully they didn't notice our still -clasped-hands! For extra comfort, I rested my palm atop Akamaru's back after he moved to protectively stand in front of me; keeping the others in the room at bay! Hinata was the only other woman Akamaru protected! Kiba was the one to break the silence. "You wanted to see us?"

I didn't dare say anything while Kakashi closed the door! My hand was given another comforting squeeze. Out the corner of my left eye, I caught sight of Kiba's mouth pulling upward at the corner while keeping his brown eyes locked straight ahead. Lady Tsunade looked is over, her caramel brown eyes briefly locked on Kiba's hand still clasping mine before averting her eyes to mine after meeting Kiba's. I was given sympathetic looks by the strange man and Kakashi Sensei. "Kiba. Raven." Lady Tsunade's next words were mournful. "I do indeed. I have weighed the situation of your failed mission, Raven, and have decided to give you one more A-rank mission."

My head shot up and my eyes blew wide from shock. But instead of saying something, I listened to my sensei continue. "However, the objectives of this last mission you are receiving won't be easy. You will be facing a whole different kind of enemy in Mahal's world known as Middle-Earth. You will be tested in a completely different way. The objectives for your last mission are these: escort a king safely to his kingdom, keep him and his people safe, help the king reclaim his homeland from a giant fire-breathing beast and re establish his throne and home. If you fail this A-rank mission, you will be stripped of your ninja title, your weapons and chakra. Your headband will be removed."

"Then I will take you to my home to put on display so your failure is seen by everyone before your life is taken as pay ment for my son's." The client gave me a malicious smirk that equally matched the maliciousness of his words.

Kiba let out a vicious growl before barking! "Raven didn't kill your son, you arrogant piece of -!"

"Kiba!"

Kiba met my eyes with anger but I rested my hand upon his shoulder after letting go of his hand. "We will deal with the details after the mission. When we do, you can give an earful to the client about being a piece of garbage." I watched Kiba only give a single nod while his lips formed a thin line.

I turned my attention back to the client before meeting my sensei's eyes again. I wholeheartedly agreed with Kiba; the client was indeed a piece of garbage; though he was about to say different word that wasn't nice. The mission was more important than the client at the moment. "Is there anything else, Lady Tsunade."

Lady Tsunade averted her eyes to Kiba. "Kiba Inazuka, you will be joining Raven on her last mission. The objectives of the mission also apply to you."

Kiba gave a firm nod. "Understood." He and I both watched Lady Tsunade turn her attention to the Jonin and the client. "I would like to speak with Kiba, Raven, Kakashi and Mahal privately. Everyone else is dismissed."

Kiba watched everyone file out of the office. Only he, Raven, Kakashi, Akamaru and Mahal stayed in the office; save for Shizune, Lady Tsunade's handmaiden. He wasted no time speaking his mind once the office door clicked shut. "Are you seriously just going to let that piece of shit take Raven away from her home if this mission goes south?!" Lady Tsunade met his brown eyes with grief dancing across the depths! There was no anger in her eyes. Only grief. "That's what I wanted to talk privately about."

Lady Tsunade took a deep breath before she set an envelope down atop her desk. With a heavy heart, she slid the envelope across the desk towards Raven. She watched her student raise an eyebrow as she spoke. "That's for you."

Raven walked up to the desk and picked up the envelope. She tore open the top and pulled out a document. Her eyes widened as she read the eviction notice. "I don't understand. You're kicking me out?"

"I'm not kicking you out. I'm sending you to a different place to live. For good."

"Is this because of me failing the mission? If it is then -"

"It's not because of the mission."

"Then what?" Raven was near tears now. Lady Tsunade hurt from seeing the pain reflected back at her in her student's eyes.

Mahal chose that moment to step up beside Raven and gently turn her to face him. He met her eyes as he spoke. "I saw what happened during your mission. I also saw what happened before. Your mission was a set up. The client set you up to fail your mission and your previous missions in order to get you stripped of your title so he can take you back to his home and have his way with you before ending your life."

"The client wants to end my life so his son's can be avenged.

"The client lied to you about having a son, my dear. He just used one of his own to play a part in your set up."

Raven and Kiba exchanged a look. "Why? What did I do to deserve this?"

Mahal gently framed Raven's face in his hands and tilted her head so her eyes met his. He was used to seeing the pained look his Dwarves always bore from losing their loved ones; the pained look reflecting at him in her eyes. "You didn't do anything. But to him it doesn't matter. What matters right now is you packing only what you need for your mission. You're also going to stay in my world for good; the client who hired you wants your life wheather or not you complete your mission."

Kiba was floored by the news his ears picked up! Psycho tic and sick in the head; the client deserved a whooping! His best friend's life hung by a thread because of the client! Lady Tsunade was the one to break the silence. "You can never come home again. I will not see one of my own murdered in cold blood."

Kiba's POV

I was beyond angry now! My best friend was losing the only home she ever knew all because a psychotic piece of garbage wanted her life even though he was the one who used one of his own to pose as his 'son' to set her up!

A low growl escaped my throat as I walked up beside my best friend and pulled her into a strong hug. I managed to calm down enough to soothe Raven with soothing words. "It's okay, honey. We will get through this together. We're going to pack then enjoy one last night with our friends. When we leave to go on the mission, we're going to complete the objectives of the mission while we kick some ass."

"Kiba!"

"Yes, we're going to kick some ass then give Lady Tsunade the good news of a completed mission. After wards, we're going to pack all of our stuff we need and go back to Middle-Earth."

"You sound so sure everything will work out."

"That's because everything will work out."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure this mission will be successful?"

"I will be with you every step of the way."

Raven hugged me and I protectively wrapped my arms around her. "From here on out, you and I are in this together, honey. From here on out, I'm your personal body guard on top of being your best friend."