Ryker just sighed deeply.

"Very well." he said, a heavy tone to his voice.

He then turned around and picked up Eke's plate as he walked back.

"Forget I mentioned it." he told him.

"I'm going to wash this up." he finished, before leaving the room.

"......." Aly was silent, before looking at Eke and hugging him.

"No, no." Aly replied.

"No, you're not." she said.

"It's not your fault you feel like this." she assured him.

"I'm sure Ryker's just feeling frustrated that there's nothing he can do to help you with this." she went on.

"Eke, you're not stupid." she then said.

"Please don't think you are..." she added quietly.

"Ryker's strong. And he loves you." Aly replied.

"I know he does. And you know it, too." she said.

"It's not your fault you're like this, and you know he doesn't blame you." she went on.

"And there's no time where you SHOULD be better." she then said. "This is something that is impossible to predict and tell, so there's no way for you to know if you should be better, or anything like that." she continued.

"So please... please don't beat yourself up for this... it'll hurt everyone, okay?" she asked him, holding him tight.

"Eke..." Aly said quietly.

"You're not weak." she told him.

"Everybody has their limitations." she went on.

"But I can tell you want to talk to Ryker." she then said further. "And I won't stop you." she continued.

She then smiled weakly, and nodded.

"I'll be here if you need me."

Ryker almost dropped what he had, but managed to set it down, before returning the hug.

"Eke..." he said.

"Let me... tell you what I was thinking earlier." he told him.

"I know you like fish. And I know you like TO fish." he said. "And I know the backyard on this property is big." he continued. "I was thinking of building a pond and stocking it with fish." he went on.

"Let you fish whenever you want, and have your pick." he chuckled.

"But only if you are comfortable with it." he insisted.

"You're my brother, Eke. And I love you, no matter WHAT happens."

"I know it is." Ryker responded, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"I'm just frustrated that I can't do anything to help." he said.

"I... there really is nothing I can do." he sighed.

"But yes. I would do that." he then added, referring to the pond.

"Readily and happily."

Ryker was silent for a moment, and sighed heavily.

"I'm pretty broken, too." he said.

"We're both messed up, let's face it." he admitted.

"We need each other." he went on, smiling a little. "And that's not a bad thing at all." he then told Eke.

"Let's face it, we stop each other from going off the deep end." he added with a light chuckle, but Eke could tell that Ryker was half-serious in that statement.

"Eh?" Ryker muttered, seeing the box.

"You... did, eh?" he asked, accepting it.

"For me?" he asked further.

When Eke nodded, he looked at it again, and sighed quietly.

"Well... all right then." he said. "Let's take a look at what's in here." he finished, before slowly opening the box and peering inside at its contents.

"..........." Ryker was silent for a moment, before taking the necklace out.

"...heh." he chuckled.

"This is absolutely beautiful." he told him.

"Seriously, this is the nicest thing I've ever seen." he went on.

"Eke..." he then whispered, before hugging him again.

"Thank you."

Ryker thought for a moment, and sighed.

"Sadly, I know nothing about females." he replied, before he looked to have a small facial spasm, and something new happened. Something Eke hadn't seen before.

Half of Ryker's face was normal, while the other half looked like he'd been taken over again, and the divide was right down the middle.

"I do." the demon declared.

"So THIS is how we're doing things now?" Ryker grumbled.

"Stuff it." the demon shot back, before looking at Eke.

"I'VE had females in the past before. And I've been paying attention to this little one." he continued, sounding almost creepy.

"You need to give her something that at least shows you give enough of an inkling to THINK about it." he told Eke. "Like something related to her liking to sing."