The Dalmatian walked through the asylems double doors. The recetion was on the left, in yellow wood. He went up to it immediatly, without looking elsewhere, and stated his buisness. "Hello, I am looking for a Mr. H. Fend. He was an old frend of mine, before he..." He paused, in an attempt to appear lost for words. It looked to be successful.
The Receptionist, a middle aged Doberman, looked at a list of names, before repling. "He might be avaliable today. May I ask your name?" He inquired.
	The Dalmatian hesitated before repling. "My name is Frank Clocker." The name was a compleate fake, his actual name was Ash.
	Thge bulky Doberman looked at Ash peacefully. "Well, you can visit him now, if you so wish." He informed. "Jist take a seat please. I'll check to see if he is capable of seeing you." He gestured to a row of chairs next to the wall on the other side of the room.
	It was what Ash both expected, and wanted. It gave him time to check on a few things.
	He walked normally, and sat down as he took some paper out of his Jean pocket. After scanning the pages, he got to the relevant part. The papers were a list of names, with infomation. Not only that, it was an illegal list.  It had risked peoples lives just to see this list, and more then not, it was a sheer fluke that Ash had a copy. His own name was on that list, a list of those considered 'dangerous' to some.
	'Harold Fend' the name read. Looking at the bio, it seemed this Harold had a harsh time. 'Potentially dangerous, no need to interfere due to being confined to asylum. Worth noting mage claims'. It would be good to be cautious in this case.
	Nowadays Ash spend most of his time systematically going through this list, finding people like himself, people considered -dangerous’. He wasn't doing this as a hobby, either. He was being looked for, and at the time the list was printed, he had the label 'W: DoA. He guessed it was the classic phrase Wanted: Dead or Alive. He risked this for one thing only: To find someone who even the authors of this list can't find. That someone might, Ash reasoned, be able to help him. Help him recover his memories, help him be free of the authors of this list, the Technology, and help him go back to living his life. Of all the things, he was looking for a certain Kitsune. And this list could contain others who know about this Kitsune.
	The Doberman broke through Ash's concentration. "Mr. Fend is avaliable to talk with you. Do you with to have an escort for safety?"
	Ash raised an eyebrow. No, thankyou, I can manage" He replied. It wouldn't do being seen talking with a madman about paranormal items!
	"OK, your call. Room 6 is the one for you." He cheerfully said, before writing down reports on paper.
	Room six was certainly not the last room in the long corridor. The said corridor stretched down with uniform white doors placed in regular intevals. Ash went to room six without looking anywhere else. He hadn't the time to prat about.
	Inside there were few decorations, those few arranged in meticulous order. Ash wondered if Harold would be as unuseful as most of the other people he had checked out.
	Hold himself was there, and looked about as average as a person could be. He had deep brown hair, and Amber eyes. He looked up as Ash entered, a puzzled expression on his frown.
	"I don't know you." He said plainly.
	Ash cut to the chase. "You won't. I know you by.. reputation. I'm in need of infomation."
	Harold's expression changed entirely to that of a pleased one. "Info, eh? What kind is it you need of me? I have lots of it! Some seem to say I'm full of it, but it's not true! I just have lots of it!" He said at such a great speed Ash had trouble keeping up in hearing.
	Ash resisted the temptation to raise his eyebrow. "Magic, of sorts. Legends, really. Any luck here?" He inquired.
	Harold raised both eyebrows, though the rest of his expression stayed pleased. "Legends, eh? Where from? Here? The States? China, Japan, India Africa Australia NewZealandRussiaArgentinaBrazil... hmmmm? I’ve met fair few! They won't believe me, you know!"
	Ash hesitated as he attempted to understand. "Japan. Please," he raised his paw "don't give me a lowdown on all the Japanese Legends. All I want and need to know about is Kitsune."
	Harold positively beamed."Ahh, the old Kitsune legends, eh? What I know! Met one once, wouldn't you know!"
	Ash didn't respond at once. Had he heard correctly? In this insane man there was what others on that blasted list did not have: Knowledge. But then again, he could be lying, after all, he was insane. At last, Ash came back, playing it out, just in case. "Your not the only one who met a kitsune. Stopped me from being in a place like this." He said. That wasn't entirely true. If it wasn't for that kitsune, he would be both insane, and very dead, not just insane. His eyes unfocused at that memory, a memory he had told nobody.
	Harold started laughing. it was a high pitch noise, similar to what you would expect at a Punch and Judy show. He didn't stop for a short while. Anywhere else, Ash mused, people would stop ato see what that was about, anywhere but here.
	Presently Harold's Cackling subsided. When he got his breath back, he explained. "That's the thing this week indeed! You were brought back, eh? Because of him, eh? Well, let me tell you! Would you believe it? I went insane because of him. That's right! HA! So, the cruel hand of the clock face of fate cruelly turns a full hands half six! Anyway!" He broke off seemingly in thought, before continuing. "Lets see. Oh, yeas! Kitsune, eh? They do indeed come from Japan, yes indeed! But that dosn't mean mean these days! Planes, boats, all them there be mechanical. They can travel, ya see! Suppose some consider themselves different nationality now! I guess... I guess the youn'uns might be. Immigration, most can do that, heh, and some other legendary critters too, probably. Tis easyer for them boy, looking much like foxes, still, I guess some other creepies can cross borders, shape shifting, or mind altering. Just take dragons, there everywhere! But I guess our friend would stay national, possibly. Mabie. Heck, I don't know, its up to him! That might help. Oh, and the tails, they represent age, wouldn't you know! I wonder if it'd be easier to find a kitsune if you looked like a fox. Heh, probably, eh? Some of them do have that ability themselves!"
	Harold got up suddenly, and walked over to a draw with a 'private' sticker on it. Opening it up, he removed an odd yellow/golden orb like object, while whispering under his breath.
	Ash had no idea what to do. What has Harold doing. He was mad, was this just rambling? After a few moments, he spoke. "What are you up to?" He asked.
	Harold at first ignored him. Eventually he stopped whispering, and looked around. His Amber eyes were glowing, and as he turned to face Ash, the eyes dulled down. He placed the object back in the draw carefully. Oddly enough, the thing looked slightly smaller then before. "You known that stuff be very rare, tis manna, boy! Heh, well, I'm done, nought I'll do for you now, be gone!" With that, folded his arms, and sat down, ignoring Ash.
	Ash got up, not entirely sure what had happened. He felt slightly lighter, and had a spring in his step as he left. Mabie Harold gave him a blessing of sorts? Who knew.

					***

	The receptionist filled some daily forms. It hadn't been a particularly good day for her, a few awkward customers making things unnecessarily difficult. She had almost lost her cool once as well, even frowning at one point. Somebody opened the double doors with such a bang she looked up, and saw a fox exit.
	He walked in briskly to the receptionist, and asked if Mr. Hooflef was in.
	"I'll check for you." She replied. Something nagged her about the fox, though she hadn't a clue what. "Please take a seat." She almost expected him to sit at the end of the row of seats. 
	He did.
	The phone rang its usual once before being answered. "Yes, what is it?" Hooflef asked, slightly taught.
	"There is a fox here to see you." The receptionist informed at once.
	The fox called out from his chair. "Tell him its urgent!"
	"He says its urgent." She relayed.
	There was a deep, long sigh on the other end of the phone, before Hooflef replied. "Sure, send Mr. Busybody in." The phone went dead immediately.
	The Receptionist gestured to the door.
	"I know which room it is." The fox Grumbled.
	Mr. Hooflef was in his chair, behind his desk. He was already looking at the door in anticipation when it opened.
	The fox that entered looked familiar somehow. He had a darker patch on his head, which was unusual, and two smaller ones on the right of his face.
	Hooflef started off. OK, so, what do you want? And don't forget, just because I don't know you dosn't mean you will get away without paying. I trust you have money in cash." He informed dryly.
	The fox paused, then replied. OK, but don't you recognize anything? My mannerisms, my talk?" After getting a shake of the head, be it a slow one, he got out some paper, and put it on the table. "You should remember this. I gave a copy to you. Scrub the guy named Harold Fend, or you'll end up like me." 
	Hooflef knew who it was as soon as the list hit the table. Nobody else knew he had a copy. Even so! "What? How? But... How?" He stammered.
	Ash gestured to the list. "Old mad Fend was a mage. I didn't have a clue what he did untill I left! I asked about Kitsune, and he seems to think it fitting I become a fox. Damn him!" He almost shouted. "How the hell do I reverse this? I'm no mage, but you might be able to so something, surly? You are a healer! I'm going to collect on that copy I gave you. How do I change back to a Dalmatian?" He almost pleaded, slightly calming down.
	Hooflef looked at Ash, then the desk in thought. At last he came with his verdict. "I don't simply know. Healers are not mages! I'm no mage either! Quite honestly, I think you might have to live with it. It is probably temporary, but it could be permanent, I guess."
	Ash started to shout fully. "Live with it? How the hell do I live with THIS?!?" He showed his, now quite bushy, tail.
	Hooflef suppressed a chuckle. "Well, I don't know, some like tails like that. But why not looke around a bit, someone might be able to do something for you.. How about..." He checked the list " ... Mr Fend, he would know."
	Ash cut in. "Forget it. Fend is mad, and I don't think he will help at all." He looked at his paws. "But your right. I'd better have a look."
	Hooflef ended the subsequent silence. "You know, at least those men in black, or whatever they are are off your back. they are looking for canine, not vulpine."
	"Your right." Ash agreed, calmed down again. " The Technocracy are not looking for... this." He pointed to himself. "I guess that's one good point. Looks like I have some traveling to do. Mabie we will meet again." He started for the door. "I sure hope to hell so."
	Hooflef got in the final comment. "That might be good indeed. Say, mabie you'll meet that kitsune on your travels..."