"The monsters behind the doors I've broken down have so far mostly been defeatable," Sasuke noted. "With the exception of the humanoid ones, I mean. By handing us more doors and, potentially, opponents, it's basically as if they're training us. That only supports the theory that they're preparing to use us for something."

The humanoid ones had all -- with the exception of the girl he'd met the first night -- been defending something as well, Sasuke recalled. Even that girl had been blocking the way to something. Still, all of it was uncomfortably reminiscent of a particularly nasty training exercise.

There was a whisper of air on Sasuke's other side that was closer than it should have been and Sasuke glanced sharply in Aidou's direction, tensing. He wouldn't put it past Aidou to do something dumb -- the first time they'd met, the vampire had attacked someone -- but Sasuke hadn't provoked him much ...

"I haven't," he said, still a little suspicious despite the fact that he hadn't felt anything land. "What sort of place is it?"