Ok, here's the next chapter, and our first cat fight.

* * *

A Dish Best Served Cold

The Angel and the DiVA

* * *

Anthony stared out at the city as the sun started to slowly rise above the buildings, becoming clearly visible. He hadn't slept much the previous night, after receiving Bill's warning phone call. He knew, deep down, that this day would come sooner or later, that Black Mamba would wake up out of her coma and seek revenge upon everyone who had wronged her, including him.

But, truth be told, he wasn't worried about himself.

He was worried about Dylan, who walked in front of him and leaned into him, her back pressing up against his chest. He wrapped his arms protectively around her as she closed her eyes and sighed. Anthony looked down at her, afraid of what might happen if Black Mamba had found out that he had fallen in love, if she might go after Dylan; although, she had spared Vernita's husband and daughter when she had killed her.

But, there was Sophie Fatale, who had been O-Ren Ishii's second in command and best friend, and what Mamba had done to her.

* * *

Bill felt his heart almost clench in his chest when he saw Sophie as she sat in the wheel chair. She had several bruises and cuts on her faces, and one of her arms was now gone, sliced off by Black Mamba. Bill couldn't really blame Mamba for doing this; he knew she wouldn't let anyone get in her way during her quest for vengeance.

Bill walked up to Sophia, staying behind her, not wanting to see her tear-streaked face, as he comfortingly stroked her hair. "Sophie, Sophie, my Sophie; I'm sorry," he whispered after a moment.

"Forgive me for my betrayal," she whispered in response after a few seconds, her voice hoarse and pain filled.

Bill shook his head. "There's no need to say that now."

"But still…"

"But still, nothing," Bill said, cutting her off. "Except, my aching heart, at what's she's done to my beautiful, and gifted Sophie." For a moment he remained silent, continuing to caress her hair. Then, he asked a question that he already had a good idea of what the answer was, but he asked anyway. "If you had to guess why she kept you alive, what would it be?"

After a moment Sophie shook her head 'no'. "Guessing wouldn't be necessary," she explained. "She informed me. She said I could keep my wicked life for two reasons."

"Go on," Bill replied.

"The first was for information about the rest of the Deadly Viper Assassins, what they've been doing, and where she could find them."

Bill nodded, it made sense. "And the second?"

For a moment Sophie didn't answer. Then, "She wanted me to tell you what had happened tonight. She wanted you to know what she knew, and she wanted you to know that she wanted you to know. And she wanted you to know that you and the others will all soon be as dead as O-Ren."

Bill nodded again. He knew it. "I see." He paused, and then said one more thing.

"One more thing Sophie…is she aware that her daughter is still alive?"

Sophie didn't answer.

* * *

"So why didn't you sleep?"

Anthony snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Dylan's soft voice. "Oh…I just wasn't tired."

Dylan turned around and looked up into his eyes, as if she could see if he was lying or not. There was something in his voice that seemed worried, almost afraid. But he just looked at her with his normal expression.

She leaned up and gently kissed his lips. After a moment she pulled away. "I'm going to take a shower." She walked over to the bathroom door and opened it, walking inside.

Anthony just continued to stare out the window, the feeling he was having not going away.

He knew this wasn't going to end pretty.

* * *

The knocking at the door caused Alburt to raise his head. Alburt was a large black man in his thirties, wearing an expensive tuxedo and holding a sheathed samurai sword. Walking over to the door he opened a little slot near the top before staring into the pair of eyes that greeted him.

"Yes?"

"I heard you have a game going on," the man on the other side said.

"Who are you?" Alburt asked.

"They call me Bill."

Alburt raised an eyebrow. "Bill what?"

"That, I've never been called before."

"Open the door, Alburt." Alburt turned his head and looked back at the beautiful young woman who was wearing a black dress. "Let's see what this Bill looks like."

Alburt nodded before unlocking the door and opening it, allowing Bill to step inside. Bill was wearing a tuxedo like Alburt, his hair, which was turning gray, fell down to almost his shoulders. Despite the fact that he appeared to be in his fifties, Alburt knew just by the way that he moved that he was a dangerous fighter, as if the sheathed samurai sword that he was holding in his hand wasn't enough.

Bill walked into the hotel room, taking in the scenery. The room had been converted into the playing location of a crap game. Seven men stood around a table, each one trying their luck. When Bill had walked in the room all playing stopped.

"So, are you a police man, Bill?"  The young woman asked.

Bill cocked an eyebrow. "Not anymore?"

The young woman laughed. "Let him play."

Alburt nodded and everyone else continued playing. Then, Alburt motioned to Bill's sword before stating, "I'll take that."

Bill smirked. "You'll have to," he shot back. Alburt almost growled before moving foreword.

"Alburt."

Alburt stopped and looked at the young woman, who shook her head 'no'. He backed off. "Yes, Miss Boyle."

L.F. Boyle nodded before walking up to Bill. "Do you intend to start any shit with that sword?"

"I give you my word of honor, I will not start anything."

L.F. nodded. "Good enough for me," she replied before turning back to the game, ignoring the death glare that Alburt was giving Bill, who simply smiled. He moved over to the game, when Alburt's hand came down on his shoulder, and he looked back at the bodyguard.

"Miss Boyle required a two hundred dollar membership fee," Alburt explained. Bill arched an eyebrow.

"That's pretty pricey."

Alburt shrugged. "If you don't like it, go to Vegas. If you leave now you can get there by sundown."

Bill sighed before reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a wad of bills that would choke a rodeo bull to death. Pulling out two hundred dollars he handed it to Alburt. "I think I'll stay here. I'm thirsty," he said as he gave the doorman the money. Alburt pointed to the suite's bar, tended by a young woman.

Bill walked over. "Give me a beer."

"Twenty dollars."

Bill raised both eyebrows. "Twenty dollars for a beer?"

The bartender, like Alburt, shrugged in response. "High cost of living shooter."

Bill reached into his pocket and pulled out twenty dollars before handing it to the bartender. Reaching down she pulled out a cup and a can of beer. Opening the can she poured half into it before handing the cup to Bill, who looked at it curiously. "I don't get that," he asked, and she shook her head. Bill sighed and brought the cup to his lips. "Cheers."

* * *

Black Mamba looked up at the large apartment complex she stood in front of. She had been told that a man matching Anthony's description was living there.

She walked into the complex, her samurai sword hidden in the large bag she carried.

* * *

Anthony raised his head when he heard the knocking at the door. He was surprised that Dylan was already home. She was back sooner than expected.

But, that didn't really matter to him, as he stood up and walked to the front door. He opened it…

…and froze.

* * *

Black Mamba came to the room that she had been told he was staying in. She hoped this was the right one. The last two that she had been told he might have been staying in were wrong. She knocked on the door. A moment later the door opened, greeting her with an all too familiar face.

* * *

Anthony kept a straight face as he stared into the eyes of Black Mamba, eyes that were staring at him with murderous intent. He slowly backed up, letting her come into the apartment. For a moment neither moved, they just stared at each other.

Finally Black Mamba broke the silence. "Anthony," she stated.

Anthony nodded. "Beatrix."

Black Mamba wasn't sure what to be more surprised at, the fact that he had spoken, or that he had used her actual name. But she pushed it aside and continued to glare at Anthony.

Finally, Anthony decided to speak again. "Look…" But she didn't let him finish as she walked foreword and brutally punched him in the face, knocking him backwards. The blow slightly dazed him but he had enough combat sense to block her next attack before slamming her into the wall. She snarled before bringing her knee up into his stomach before kicking him across the face, knocking him backwards.

She unzipped the bag she was carrying before unsheathing her Hattori Hanzo sword. She slashed at the other assassin, but he simply flipped backwards before grabbing his cane sword. Unsheathing the blade he slashed the air, and Black Mamba screamed as she felt the thin blade tear into her stomach. The cut wasn't too deep, but it still hurt.

Anthony took a fighting position, his blade held straight and aimed at her. Black Mamba charged and sliced at Anthony, who dodged and lashed out with his sword. She raised her own to block and his blade crashed down onto hers…

…and was instantly sliced in half.

Anthony looked at the remainder of his sword in his hand disbelievingly before looking up at Black Mamba, who smirked before bringing her leg up in a kick. Anthony quickly blocked it with one leg before turning and smashing her in the stomach with a reverse thrust kick, knocking her backwards with a grunt of pain. She quickly recovered though and started slashing at Anthony, who quickly switched into defensive. He grabbed her arm and twisted it, forcing her to drop her sword. She hissed in pain before punching him in the face. As he recoiled, she lashed out with a jumping spin kick, the blow carrying enough force to knock him into unconsciousness.

She walked over and picked up her sword before looking at Anthony's unconscious body. She knew that killing him while he was out cold was rather low, so instead of aiming for his chest or head, she aimed the blade at his leg, figuring the pain would wake him up.

She stabbed downward…

…only to have her hand caught before it reached him. She looked over and found herself looking into the eyes of a VERY pissed off red headed young woman.

* * *

A few seconds earlier…

Dylan walked up to the apartment door, surprised to see that the door was wide open. Something wasn't right.

She quickly ran in and her eyes widened in shock as she saw Anthony lying unconscious on the floor with a blonde haired woman standing over him, preparing to stab him with a samurai sword.

Her face darkened and she quickly ran over and grabbed the woman's arms just as she brought the sword down, aiming for her lover's leg.

* * *

Black Mamba stared at Dylan, not nervous at the glare she was giving her. She broke off and backed up, aiming the sword at Dylan.

"Who are you," she asked after a moment.

Dylan bitterly smiled. "You're the one who broke into my home and attacked my boyfriend. I think you're the one who should be answering questions."

Black Mamba chuckled. "Boyfriend? Oh, that is rich," she muttered under her breath. Then, she glanced at Anthony. "This doesn't concern you. Just walk away."

Dylan shook her head. "I can't do that."

Black Mamba sighed. "Alright."

With that she lunged, swinging her sword in a downward arc. Dylan dodged before kicking the sword out of her hands. She tried to punch Black Mamba, but the blonde assassin grabbed her arm and threw her into a nearby table, her body smashing it. Dylan groaned before leaping to her feet. The two circled each other before moving in and attacking again.

They moved across the room, exchanging brutal punches and kicks. Black Mamba punched at Dylan, who grabbed her arm and twisted it. Black Mamba didn't let it slow her down as she kicked Dylan in the face, causing her to recoil as blood erupted from her mouth. Black Mamba then slammed her knee into Dylan's stomach, causing her to bend over before Black Mamba laced her hands together, slamming them into Dylan's back, and knocking her to the ground.

Then, she got down and wrapped her arm around Dylan's throat, who gasped as her air supply was cut off. She struggled madly, but the assassin held her grip. Finally, Dylan was able to pull Black Mamba's arm off before flipping Black Mamba to the floor. The blonde kicked Dylan in the face, knocking her back and giving her some room as she jumped to her feet.

Dylan then punched again, and Black Mamba grabbed her arm, and with a brutal twist, dislocating it. Dylan screamed in pain before Black Mamba brutally backhanded her, knocking her to the floor.

With her out of the way, she looked over to where Anthony had been lying, only to find that he was no longer there. She turned around, and all she saw was a foot flying at her face before darkness took over.

* * *

A few seconds earlier…

Anthony was snapped out of unconsciousness as he heard his lover scream in pain. His eyes snapped open and settled on Dylan, whose arm, which now looked broken, and the blonde haired warrior that was holding it before she knocked her to the floor.

Anthony quickly rose to his feet, anger flaring up inside at seeing her mistreatment of Dylan. He quickly snuck around her when she looked at where he had been lying before lashing out with a roundhouse kick, knocking her out.

With that out of the way, Anthony instantly turned his attention to Dylan, who was slowly rising to her feet, holding her arm.

"Dylan," he whispered as he helped her sit down, as she grimaced in pain. She slightly smiled at him before looking at her dislocated arm.

Anthony looked at it, and then placed one hand on each of her shoulders. Dylan knew what he was doing and grabbed the front of his outfit, bracing herself. Then, with a popping sound, he popped her arm back into its socket. She screamed in pain again before rubbing her arm. She looked at him and smiled sweetly. "Thanks," she whispered.

Anthony nodded before looking at Black Mamba's unconscious form. "We better get something to tie her up with."