There seemed to be a pause for a moment.

".....interesting." the voice said.

"Mother." it said further.

"Do you want to forget mother?" it asked him.

"Do you want me to take those memories for my toll?" it asked further.

"Bitter and horrid memories are just as tasty as sweet ones."

"HAH!" the voice yelled.

"SO BE IT!" it said.

"I WILL RIP YOUR PAST RIGHT FROM YOU!" it declared.

With that, Eke felt his memories of his mother 'grabbed'... and the demon the yanked the presence out... alongside those memories.

"Ah-hahahahahahaha!" he laughed out loud.

"Yeeeeeesssssss....." he hissed happily, as he seemed to consume and smother the entity.

As soon as Eke passed out, the demon disappeared back into Ryker.

"...Eke!" Ryker exclaimed, rushing towards the fallen dragon.

'Take him to bed and lay him down.' was all he heard in his mind.

"....." Ryker was silent, before lifting Eke up and carrying him to his bed, laying him down on it.

"....Eke..." he said quietly, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

"....." Ryker was silent, before sighing.

"....hey, Eke." he greeted him.

"...and... it's nothing." he mumbled.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Are you all right?"

Ryker didn't know what to say here.

".............sure." he then said.

"Yeah... yeah, sure. I'll... make up some fish." he told him.

He then looked at the jacket, before getting to his feet and leaving the room, making his way downstairs.

'...so I guess that's that.' he thought.

"I know." Ryker responded.

"My other side removed that part of you, and it took the memories of your mother with it." he said.

"So all's well for you." he commented.

"Nobody remembers what happened, so... happy ending for you." he said further.

He then grabbed a huge slab of fish and started to cook it up for Eke.

"I'll get this made for you." he told him with a small smile.

Ryker bit his lip when Eke said all he did.

"I..." he stammered.

"It's... no, it's... it's not that." he said.

"It's not that you... I mean, I'm glad that... you're happier now." he told him.

"But... but the fact that you had to go to... HIM... that you had to get HIS help..." he went on, looking away.

"You had to make a deal with a demon to do it." he said quietly.

"I'm not mad. I'm not disappointed. I just... I hate that it had to come to that." he clarified, his tone showing he was ready to cry as well.

"....I'm sorry." he whispered, before suddenly hugging Eke.

"I really AM happy that you're happier now." he assured him.

".........." Ryker was silent for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"Ah. Yes." he said.

He then promptly went back to the slab of fish, finishing off the cooking.

"It's... a bit scorched on one side. Sorry." he apologized.

"But this should at least take the edge off your hunger." he told him.

"Do you want any other sort of meat?" he asked.

"All right then." Ryker replied.

"Then work on that fish right now." he told him.

"I'll start making up more food for you." he went on.

"..........I'm glad you're eating again." he then said further, as he grabbed a slab of beef.

"You just... refused to eat for a while, and it worried me."

Ryker couldn't help but chuckle when Eke moaned in pleasure.

"Heh, cool." he said.

"Glad you like it." he told him.

"I'll keep the food coming. Or try to, anyway." he then said.

"We have plenty right now."