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"Speech"

'Thought'

Warnings: OC-centric, minor-OCs, slight AU, slight ooc, Unbetaed

All credits go to their respected owners.

Previously:

I checked the clock on the wall as it read:

13:18

Damn I slept for almost ten hours!? Fuck you bed for being so comfortable.

I slung the strap of my bag over my shoulders and left my room feeling the rumbling of my stomach. Well, time to head to the buffet.

.

.

.

.

.

I hope this voyage turns out fine...

"Please accept our famiglia's little token of appreciation Young Miss Vongola!"

Go away!

"No, no, no, my famiglia would serve much better! Miss Tsukiyoshi!"

Like I care!

"Young Miss Vongola!"

Shut up!

"Over here!"

I ain't your puppy!

"Miss Tsukiyoshi!"

I swear I'll castrate you.

"Please accept this!"

All of you.

I ran thanking my small structure as I crawled into tight areas and held my knees together to maximize space. Panting, I could feel my lungs expanding my ribs but unfortunately I couldn't let my chest breathe as my knees were directly under my chin. Cursing whatever force in the world hated me (I'm looking at you Lady Luck you bitch) I glared at the rowdy crowd of adults running around and trying to find me. Seriously? Get a fucking life.

On hindsight I should've just ordered room service because now I had over fifty famiglia representatives chasing me for an alliance or something like that.

You see, when I was about to go out, I felt a pang of pain (like a needle repeatedly stabbing you) in my brain- which usually was a warning my hyper intuition was sending me. Let me just say this, I nearly cried of the shock because never before had my hyper intuition hurt me in such a... defined way? Look, the feeling of my hyper intuition was always a muted humming in brain- almost unnoticeable if I wasn't paying attention. But ever since I came into this world, my hyper intuition has been getting more painful and the jolt of pain I felt was even more sharper than that time at Kokuyo.

Maybe it was because of that weird dream I had...

Anyways, the moment I came out of my room, multiple Mafioso surrounded me trying to either talk to or kidnap me. Unfortunately, the guards plus Cecelia weren't able to hold out that many people at once and back-up didn't come until much, much later.

So here I was in a tiny ass vent thinking over my life choices.

If they could even be classified as choices.

After the noise died down a little, I slowly ducked my head out- looking for any movement. When I found none, I quickly made my way out (listening to my hyper intuition this time!), my limbs untangling from whatever acrobatic position I was in. I ran to my room successfully avoiding everyone and stayed in there until the end of the voyage.

~Eight days Later~

Well it's been over a week and I feel like absolute shit. I was locked up in my room for the entire voyage with food and water coming to me via the cruise staff (not that they minded). I did have a balcony in my room so that at least kept my sanity in check. Not even in the Vongola mansion did I stay locked in one place for so long.

But that isn't even the worst part. The worst part is the fact that I'm riding this hellhole for NOTHING! You see, during the duration of the just wonderful stay, I was contacted by Mukuro that Vendicare was NOT located in Venice.

That son of a pineapple bitch.

Do you know what that means?

It means that I sneaked out for nothing and probably Tony and Akira are looking for me. Not to mention when I get back, I'm to be in some deep shit! Mukuro I swear when I get my hands on you, I'll choke you with your own chains!

While thinking up a brilliant revenge plan, the ship's speakers dinged, meaning that they were going to make an announcement.

With slight static, the speaker sounded. "Good evening valued passengers! It is 5:28 and we have arrived in Venice, Italy within the grounds of Vongola territory. Please make no trouble while on our land and enjoy your stay!"

I sighed. 'Might as well dig up some information while I'm here.'

I exited the ship (FREEDOMMM!) with almost the entire staff protecting me from the other mafia famiglias trying to make contact with me. They bowed goodbye as I saw Cecelia giving me a gentle smile in departure.

I've bonded with her during my stay as she was the only person I could talk without having flattery or threats shoved in my face. She was like my guard and friend. Hopefully.

I waved back with a smile of my own. "Bye Cecelia and the others!"

I walked off the boat and headed towards the docks planning to get a nice hotel somewhere.

When my foot first made contact with the land, my eyes sprang open as a weird jolt of heat and frost sparked in my legs for a fraction of a second.

I nearly fell down, not expecting that.

'T-That was just like the feeling I had…in that dream with the voices.'

I felt the weird sensation again as it ate away the nerves in my body- making my fingers twitch and blood run cold. Thankfully my hyper intuition directed me me to take a couple of steps forward as the pain subsided bit by bit, step by step. Understanding the gist of what it was telling me, I ran towards the city where my intuition led me as my heart raced. I don't know where I'm going nor do I care. Whatever those jolts of agony were, I just want to get away from it. Eventually the feeling disappeared but the trail it made still etched in my heart and that jolt of weird phantom pain just reminded my body of that fact.

I looked around and let the heat leave my face. I was in the Venice canals.

Shit.

Look, these are a fucking abyss of misdirection and basically an Mini-boss of an Ancient Egyptian maze. Needless to say I have bad experience with the canals. A few years back, I got lost here once and let me tell you; having a pissed Hibari find you and an equally annoyed PMS-ing Gokudera watch you for the rest of your vacation is NOT the way you want to spend your summer.

I stopped to look around. Its better not to wander aimlessly and get even more lost (I'm not an idiot like Lambo). The canals were damp and humid- especially since it was hot day today. I could feel the density of the air in my throat and nostrils as I took each breath. The walls were thankfully big enough for me not to feel claustrophobic but by no means were it the grand halls of a palace. I came to Venice a couple of times but that was years ago- when my body was even smaller than it is now. So it's no wonder I feel like the walls are caving in on me.

I could hear running water and the drops of them in my immediate vicinity but honestly that was given. Breathing through the filter (my jacket sleeve) I went into my (still incomplete) Hyper Dying Will Mode and tuned into my Vongola Intuition. I followed the strong force pulling me in hopes of getting out.

Little did I know that my Intuition never went according to my wishes.

Who is to blame?

I blame Vongola Primo.

I blame Giotto Vongola.

I blame him so hard.

Curse you and our blood for giving me this hyper intuition that hurts like a bitch.

Do you know what?

From now on you will be dubbed Great-er-est Grandpa (great naming skills strikes again!).

I ran through multiple canals, the skin of my boot doused in murky water and debris. I could feel the source of the strong sensation practically tingling on my skin.

'Just one more turn and-!'

.

.

.

.

.

CURSE YOU GREATEREST GRANDPA!

I looked straight ahead. Nothing but a dead end alleyway with crates littering the place. I growled in frustration and turned around until I felt a sharp piercing pain in my brain. Which basically meant my Vongola Intuition was going:

Naw bitch. You going to where I tell you to.

Chanting some weird voodoo shit I learned from Gokudera (against everyone's wishes) to Greaterest Grandpa, I reluctantly turned around, knowing better to rebel against it because I was definitely NOT a masochist. I trotted down the alley, my footsteps echoing against the high walls. I jumped over five crates until I reached the end where I found a long haired person slouched down in a corner.

Wait isn't that…

"SQUALO!?"

I gaped at the sight.

That hair. That silver hair. That beautiful silver hair.

That face. That wrinkly old ass face.

It…It really was him. It really was my grumpy little shark bait! A smile formed on my face that I couldn't stop. I know it wasn't my Squalo but so far, the people I've met weren't too different from my world's counterpart (give or take a few- namely Tsunayoshi).

But my smile quickly faded as I got closer to him as my eyes adjusted to the shade covering him like a blanket. Upon closer inspection I smelled the scent of iron mixed with the humid air coming from his injured body.

Fresh blood stained his black leather uniform with the sleeves ripped and scorched revealing his damaged mechanical arm and abused and peeling real arm. His pants were frayed as the openings revealed crimson gashes on his fair skin. He was slumped over, his lower back supported by the wall behind him with his head supported by the adjacent wall. His sword arm powerlessly held his real arm in a futile act of defense as his face was unconscious in a deep scowl with his eyebrows digging into the bridge of his nose.

I rushed to his side checking his pulse and looking over his wounded body. I put the back of my hands on his forehead to check his temperature and two fingers on his wrists then under his jaw for his pulse.

'Okay, good. His temperature is normal and is pulse is at an even rate. Slow, but even. At least he's alive…'

I moved on to the main issue at hand- the wounds. His legs were definitely temporarily immobile seeing as multiple deep gashes ran along his knees to his calves painting the floor with his blood and the smell of iron getting stronger. Ripping the coat open, the buttons flew off the leather as I lifted his undershirt. A small box fell out but I paid no mind to it and stuck it back into his coat pocket.

Because what I saw was much worse.

I saw terrible cuts littering his abs and what seemed to me as holes that ranged from mid-range weapons to close-combat ones. Thank god it wasn't bullets because that would've meant that I would've had to take it out or leave them in there. Either way, the area with the bullet hole would've gotten infected whether I did anything or not. At least with the beads I can heal him- to a certain extent.

I wanted to check his back but from what Lal and Colonello always told me, if the injury is not fatal a.k.a they could still live with it, don't move them. It made sense since moving a bleeding body improperly can lead to the wounds getting worse and the person dying of pain and blood loss.

So I settled with breaking the beads on his chest first because knowing this bundle of grumpy joy, he'll try and cut me the first chance he's got out of reflex or because I'm a stranger rubbing chemicals on his body.

One or the other.

Rubbing the wounds with the ointment carefully avoiding any unnecessary movements, I felt his body twitch as he let out a low grumble from his throat. His eyelids slowly started to open with his eyes dilating to adjust to the light. He grumbled and winced at the coming pain his brain finally registered as he slowly cocked his head to locate his surroundings. I stared at him waiting for his eyes to register that I was here. After a minute or so, our gazes locked.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

He blinked.

I blinked back.

Realization flooding into his half-dead state, he shouted trying to get up and slice me open (but of course he couldn't). "VOOIII! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!?"

I covered my ears in time, thank god, and continued to rub ointment on his fruitlessly thrashing body. "Calm down sharp tooth. You aren't helping your blood pressure by yelling."

I saw the veins on his neck pop as he tried to move. "VOOIII! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!? GET OFF OF ME!"

"First of all shrill pill, calm your ass down besides I'm not even on top of you. Second, don't you see I'm helping you? Take a good look at your wounds because I'm not the one who is making it worse."

Scowling he checked over his body and saw that most of his gashes turned into cuts and he stopped bleeding all over the floor. He raised his brows then lowered it in a suspicious yet non-threatening manner.

Well, as non-threatening Squalo could get.

"Voi… Who are you kid?"

"Well my dear trumpet mouth, the last time I checked I was a girl. No scratch that, I'm your fucking savior. You could've lost both your legs and your only remaining arm if I didn't come and disinfect your wounds. Be thankful fishie."

"I asked you who you were brat. Not what you were doing." Though he said that, the turn of his eyes told me that he was thankful.

Can't get over your pride huh?

I sighed, crushing another bead. "My name is Ly- I mean, Valentina Lyong. What's yours?"

He winced at the ointment seeping into his skin. "It's better if you would've ignored me kid. I'm dangerous."

Looks like Italian chivalry isn't quite dead yet. "Well aren't you just a sweetheart? Tell me your name."

He looked at he like I was crazy (which I am thank you very much). "Why the fuck would I do that!? I just told you-!" He winced at my finger applying a little too much pressure on his cut.

Aw, he cares how adorable. But I have no time for your bullshit Squalo so time for plan B:

Rub the man's egotistical pride.

I feigned innocence. "I always thought a real swordsman introduced their names as a sign of respect and pride- especially when the other party introduced theirs."

He glared at me, growling. "How the fuck do you know that kid?"

"Well, I figured that this," I said pointing to his sword arm, "isn't something you would carry around just for show. Besides I know a good swordsman when I see one."

I saw his eyes flash in amusement with undertones of excitement and lust for battle. "You know swordsmanship?"

Goodness gracious, why are all the males around me so easy to manipulate? Samchon you were right, stroking a man's ego is the best way to get information.

"Well, let's just say several people around me loved the sword above all else. They taught me- well tried. I know the basics and the general parts of it like the types of swords, swings, and movements but don't get me wrong, I can't even touch a kitchen knife without cutting myself much less wield a sword."

I pulled out some bandages from my bag and wrapped it tightly around Squalo's abdomen. Who knew this was the way I'd be spending my first day in Venice? Thank god for all those times Ryohei pulled me to help aid everyone (mainly Mukuro and Hibari) who got hurt because they were fighting with each other over something stupid (which happened way too often). The same goes for my fabulous Auntie Luss (lord knows how many times I had to cut excess hair off of the Varia grunts plus Squalo and Levi after Zio lost it).

Squalo lost the glimmer in his eyes and looked away. "Che. Fuck off brat."

This Yúchì motherfucker. "Don't you 'che' me! I'm the one who's helping you!"

He faced me as my face got closer to his. "Shut up kid! And get the hell away from me!"

Suddenly one of the cuts I treated reopened as the blood vessel popped and blood gushed out. My heart hammered my ribs as the thought of Squalo dying, the nightmares I had, were coming true to life. Quickly using my beads and the red bond from my fedora, I treated the wound before it got worse. I worked quickly, using all those lessons from the Vongola medics to use. I didn't see Squalo's face but I know it was one of pain and surprise.

After the cells got better, I got closer and grabbed the collar of his uniform. He tried to push me away but pressed my finger into his cut. Staring directly into his eyes anger filled my tongue. "YOU FUCKING IDIOT! What if you'd died!? Learn to appreciate people old man! Sometimes your pride isn't worth your life! I don't want to see you die!" Again…

He stopped shouting and went silent. Fuck I could've handled that a lot better. Why can't I keep my emotions in check recently!?

I backed off, releasing my hold and moved onto his legs. Awkward silence ran between us as I crushed the beads on his legs and he stared.

After what seemed to be an eternity he clicked his tongue and leaded back on the wall. "Che. Typical civilian behaviour. You don't even know me and you don't want me die? How do you know I'm not a bad person?"

I wonder if the sedatives are making him more talkative? "Because I can feel it. You care for others in your own way. And as long as you still have an ounce of humanity left, I'll bring you out of the depths of hell myself. Besides normal people avoid problems, not approach it."

He snorted. "Heh! Stupid brat. What did you say your name was? Lyong? You've got guts I'll give you that much."

A ghost of a smile formed on my lips. "I'd prefer Valentina. Anyways, the salves are highly effective so you can perform normal tasks like walking and grabbing stuff. Just don't try to run okay? I won't be held responsible if you reopen your wounds."

I got up and slung his arm over my shoulders and supported his body against mine as I heaved him up. The moment his weight shifted onto mine, I focused all my strength on my quivering legs as took little steps forward.

Squalo tried to move away but the strain of his recovering body didn't let him (not to mention my A+++ muscles). "Voi! What are doing!?"

I jabbed my finger into his sore spot as his cringed hilariously. "Quiet Squawker. I said you can move but it doesn't mean you should. Besides, if I didn't do this, you'd strain your body by moving regardless of pain because of your stupid man pride."

He scowled but when silent. Bitch knows I'm right.

He glared at me when we made a turn. "How the hell do you where we're going!?"

"Truthfully I don't."

"VOOOIIII!"

I winced at his yell that directly pierced my ears. "Fucking-! Don't scream in my ear!"

He yelled again. "THEN TELL ME AT LEAST WHERE THE FUCK YOU'RE TAKING ME!"

For an assassin you don't get the concept of silence do you? "I'LL TELL YOU! JUST DON'T FUCKING SCREAM IN MY EAR!"

"YOU BRAT! DON'T YOU START YELLING AT ME!"

"FUCK YOU TONE DEAF WANKER! YOU STOP FIRST!"

"VOOIII! SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME AND I'LL KILL YOU KID!"

"OH? WHICH ONE? BECAUSE I HAVE AN ARCHIVE FULL OF NAMES I CAN CALL YOU!"

"I'LL FUCKING SLICE YOU ANNOYING BRAT!"

"AT LEAST MY VOICE DOESN'T CREATE AN EARTHQUAKE EVERY TIME I SPEAK! AND MAYBE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO CALL YOU THAT IF YOU WOULD JUST FUCKING TELL ME YOUR DAMN NAME!"

"I SAID IT'S TOO DANGEROUS! ARE YOU STUPID TOO!?"

You dare challenge me? "FUCK YOU, YOU LOVE CHILD OF KANADA YUU AND ALLEN WALKER!"

He gave me a disgusted look. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE THOSE!?"

"MY OTP SHIP, YOU ELEVEN!" Akira I blame you for those weird addictive Japanese shit and tumblr. I blame you so hard.

Squalo disgust turned into anger and revulsion. "THE FUCK IS THAT!?"

The rest of the way was nothing but screaming and poking each other's wounds.

We are just going to get along swimmingly...

We moved through the canals using my hyper intuition- avoiding the sight of civilians and police alike. Squalo obviously had no choice to lean on me despite still taking steps on his own. Thought it didn't stop him from scowling and yelling in my ear. Like seriously, I think my right ear is forever deaf now.

"BRAT! WHY ARE WE NOT OUT YET!?"

I felt a vein pop. "SHUT UP! AT LEAST I'M CONTRIBUTING TO THIS SITUATION INSTEAD OF BITCHING!"

"VOOIII! WHAT HE FUCK DID YOU SAY!? I'LL KILL YOU!"

This again. Death threats don't work on me sweetheart. "Look, can you just shut up and follow!? I'm pretty sure I'm your only guide out of this place!"

"GUIDE!? BRAT, I'M GOING ON MY OWN." He tried to shake himself off me but I held him firmly in place by punching his throat (thank you Akira). He coughed violently and glared at me.

Holding his throat he flailed his sword in the air. "WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT FOR!"

I punched his face this time (though I was aiming for the throat). "May I remind you, we're lost and the worst thing to do is split up? Have you never watched those horror movies? What? Are trying to be the token white chick that goes straight to the murderer?"

He growled, his voice low, grumbling at every word. "Oi… You piece of-"

"Well," I said pulling a strand of his hair, "you're halfway there already."

That's when he lost it.

"VOOOIIIII! YOU FUCKING TRASH!"

Holy shit, calm the fuck down! What if someone finds us!? "Be quiet! What if someone hears-!"

And speak of the devil, I heard a gunshot and felt the bullet just barely graze my leg (wow, and you call yourself a shot?) embedding itself to the wall. From the rooftops, jumped mysterious suited figures and we were surrounded by at least thirteen men.

With no escape.

I turned my head towards Squalo and gave him that 'I told you so' look and he in return glared 'fuck you.' Squalo turned his attention back onto to the men with their guns drawn. He pushed me out of the way as he ran towards the men with his sword out for blood.

Landing on my butt, my intuition flared in my mind signaling a crossfire was waiting to happen. But of course, like the idiot I was, I instead focused on Squalo slashing the men in rapid succession.

'That fucking idiot! He's going to reopen his wounds!'

But that thought halted when I saw bodies falling one by one, the blood gushing out of their abdomen or chest with their entrails exploding out of their lifeless forms as the metal slashed through their soft flesh. The phantom sound of bullets echoed in my ears giving me flashbacks to the fire- the fall of the Vongola. My family overrode the faces of the men. Their faces skewed in agony and pain, the light leaving their eyes, and their painful screams begging for release.

My hands shook as I felt my body tremble with gales of cold heat whipping my body. I swallowed my saliva feeling the liquid moisten my dry throat but the dryness returned quickly.

The horde of men, finally registering Squalo's movements, spit fired at him as Squalo reflected the bullets with his sword. He rushed towards them, stepping past the blood and corpses now stained on his boots, splitting their bodies one at a time. With a scowl on his face, he turned to the last one shaking in his knees.

I covered my mouth with my hands trying desperately not to scream or regurgitate. Not even during the fall did I witness killings so close. Chills ran down my spine as I thought of the only positive thing in this massacre.

'A-At least Squalo had the decency to give them a quick death…'

I snapped out of my trance as I saw Squalo advancing slowly (because of his reopening wounds) towards the last target. My intuition rang telling me to stop Squalo but I froze paralyzed in fear. Not of him but of my overlapping memories.

Finally cutting the last one down, Squalo fell to his knees his arm clutching his torso as he growled in pain. I shakily got up the blood absorbed into my dress. I slowly took off the red bond on my fedora, extending the fabric into large cloth as I cleaned myself and the area as much as possible. Then finally I covered Squalo's panting form as I started to crush beads on his gaping, reopened wounds again.

I stared at him, all emotions fleeing my body. "I told you your wounds would open again…" I gave a weak laugh. I guess sarcasm was my only method of trying to cope with the situation.

He glared at me but made no moves to stop me. Letting my hands roam his body, I felt his gaze bore through me. "Aren't you scared of me? You just witnessed a-."

I shook my head my eyes trying to avoid the bodies littering the alleyway. "I'm not scared of you. I'm scared for you. But mostly I'm scared because this encounter only further proved how… useless I was." Though I doubt he heard that last part.

I saw him with his same old grumpy looking face as he went silent. After the treatment was done and I reapplied the ointment and wrapped the bandages again, I gently grasped his hair resting on his chest and felt its soft fibre run between my fingers before he slapped my hand away yelling at me.

Touching Squalo's hair was something I always used to do back home. Whether it be messing it up, braiding it, trying to cut it with Bel, or brushing it, his soft hair always made my heart calmer. I don't know why but besides doing anything with Zio, just being near Squalo was my favourite pass time in the Varia. Though mostly it was to torture him.

I smiled fondly at the memory but it quickly faded when I remembered reality. "Well, you're all good to go. Just, please don't do that again…"

He scowled and ruffled his hair. "Che. Shut up brat. Seriously, who are you? A normal civilian doesn't just accept this."

I gave him a bitter smile. "Like you'd know anything about that life."

He glared, looking straight into my eyes. "You're from the mafia aren't you?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Birthed but not crowned or acted."

"What are you? Royalty or some shit?"

I gave out an ironic chuckle through my nose. "Guess you can say that. But not in the way you're thinking. I'm no princess. Being a princess would mean that I had the power and courage to help my family. But I have neither."

He raised his brow. "You're in the mafia no matter your association. Whether you killed a thousand trash or none, if your brush shoulders with the mafia, you're in it regardless of whatever the hell you want to or not."

"Yeah… I know." I felt tear prick my eyes as I quickly blinked them away. Squalo sighed as he got up from the floor and snaked his arm around my waist.

My eyes peeled at this action. "H-Hey! What are you-?"

But before I could say anything he heaved me up over his shoulders and slowly jumped up heading towards the rooftops using the window sills and ventilation fans. Along the way, I obviously yelled, questioning his motives.

"What the-? What you doing!?"

He tightened his hold on me as he jumped on top of another ventilation fan. "Shut your mouth you annoying brat. We're getting out of here before anymore of them shows up."

"B-But what about the corpses?"

"Che. I'm sure the Vongola will take care of it. They're all small fry Vongola ally trash after all."

I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"

"We're the mafia kid. What do you think 'take care of it' means?"

"O-Oh…" The clean-up... "Wait, why are the Vongola after you?"

"…" Squalo went silent just climbing the walls. But that's when it hit me. The timeline right now, it's after Zio led the coup d'etat or more famously known as the Cradle Affair but before the Ring Conflict Battle when Oppa came out victorious.

But I thought they were under lockdown? Why is Squalo being hunted down? Unless, no… It can't be… The box I saw was the Vongola half-rings!? No. No. No. It can't be. Could I be in time where Zio is still frozen? Because if he was unfrozen, there's no doubt Squalo wouldn't be like this. He would be in Japan chasing down Basil for the half-rings only to later find out the rings were fake and Zio challenging Tsunayoshi in the famous Ring Conflict Battle.

Trying to organize all this information down, I sighed. 'Well, it's not good to get worked up on history. All I need to do is survive for now. I-I'm sure things will work itself out... I hope.'

Squalo finally reached the roof as my eyes fell to the corpses one last time. Bur before Squalo dashed off, I saw something I wish I didn't.

'N-No... It can't be...'

Something I wished I listened to my hyper intuition for…

'Please no...'

Something that shattered my heart and broke the dam in my eyes…

'It can't be him!'

Something that if I could turn back time, I would fix…

'H-He should be alive!'

Something that just set how useless I was in stone…

'Please let me be wrong!'

I saw a mop of mahogany hair lifelessly sprawled across the floor from his slightly tanned face covered in the past's rain and blood. His dead, soulless hazel eyes that stared into nothing. The adolescent boy who shook in his knees while confronting death.

I saw…

I saw him…

I saw the corpse of…

of...

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Translations:

Yúchì- Shark fin in Chinese

I wonder if anyone got all the references I used in this chapter ( ~0ㅅ0)~ It's not as many as some of my other chapters but still.

Anyways, have a wonderful day!