The voice -- that voice -- yanked her from the haze of shock a bit too violently, a tightly knitted net of indignation catching her from a mental freefall.

The change was instantaneous. One second, her head was swimming and she seemed to be on the verge of actual physical illness, but the next ... she'd been both caught and called out on her moment of weakness, and now she was the vision of uniformity and composure, returning the stare that had sent her on her detour with one of sternness.

There was still much that she didn't know -- missing answers that she was certain that Xemnas held. There was no use in jumping through logical hoops trying to explain the similarities away to herself. No point in having a breakdown in front of him ... or anyone else. No sense in mourning something that was just a suspicion at this point.

The fear ... that was gone, too.

Thank goodness for that extra space between herself and the Nobody. She was able to straighten up, exuding as much formality as she consciously could ... before stiffly extending her hand.

"I know I've told you this once before." A slow, deep breath. "And I'm sure you knew what it was before I told you ... but I don't think it counts unless it goes both ways. So ..."

And she extended it a bit farther. Stubbornly. Insistently.

"I'm Aqua."