Hope and the Framework

The framework, as it turns out, is pretty much like a system in video games, and some of those LitRPGs. I could barely believe what Cici was telling me, but given how this was all being explained to me by a beautiful cat girl with stark white hair and fur, I was becoming a lot more open minded as of late.

"So... this syst- uh, framework, do you like, kill monsters and level up or something?" I asked, and she looked at me like I spoke foreign language.

"I don't even know what that means. That sounds ridiculous." The cat girl from a fantasy world with a video game system told me, and I chuckled.

"Sure. How silly of me." I said as I rubbed her head.

"There are classes and there are ranks. When you integrate into the framework for the first time, you are given a class based on what the system deems to be your best match. People think it's random, but I don't think it is. I got Stealth, and that lets me sneak around easier, as well as transforming into my smaller cat form. I can even alter my physical attributes for different situations. I never thought it would save my life until..." She said, her words choking off at the end.

I held her to me as I replied.

"So, you think if I integrate into this system, it'll give me a class? You think it'll help me?" I asked, and she nodded hesitantly.

"It might... it might not, but it's the only hope we have. If you get a good enough class, it might give you the skills needed to push through whatever is wrong with you. You may start off as a low rank, but anything is better than sitting here and watching you die... I don't want to lose you." She said, tearing up as she rubbed against me.

"Cause I'm your mate?" I asked softly, and she leaned up and kissed me again.

Hell... I had accepted my death would be coming soon, and I had made my peace with it. But now... with this girl in my arms, treating me like I mattered, I didn't want to go anywhere. Our kiss ended, and I found a new determination burning within me. I didn't want to die. I couldn't die, and leave Cici alone. I stared into her gorgeous green eyes.

"Okay. I want to know a little more, but I couldn't bare the thought of leaving you." I said, and she began to tremble, and more tears fell from her eyes as she squeezed me so tight I felt my ribs crack.

"Of course! I'll tell you anything!" She said into my chest, and despite the possibility of her breaking my ribs, I didn't even care. This woman just made me feel something that I've never felt before, not even with Rach.

"Well, you mentioned ranks. Would it be good if I got something high ranked?" I asked, and if it worked like a video game, or a book, then I was pretty sure I already knew the answer. And indeed, Cici nodded at me.

"Yes. Incredibly so. When I got my stealth class, it was at F rank, which is the lowest rank something can be, but after having it for about 5 years, I've trained it all the way up to D rank. Classes, as well as creatures, are ranked on a scale of F to S,with S being the highest, and there ranks in between those, like C- or B+ for example. Some say that there are ranks beyond that, but it's just legends so far. I've never even seen someone or something with an S ranked class, or an S ranked creature. Monsters and creatures don't get classes, so they are given power ratings from the framework instead."

That's interesting. No levels and no experience, yet it sounds like you can become stronger through training your class. I've read a couple things similar to that before.

"And how do I connect to this framework once we get there?" I asked.

"That's what I'm not sure about. I got a message from it when I was around 12. The framework connects to you based on your age. I assume it waits until your body is able to handle the influx of power and mana. For me, it was a painless transition." Cici said, and I nodded as I made up my mind quite easily.

I was fully on board at this point. I had nothing keeping me here anymore. I would miss my mom, but there was nothing I could do for her at the moment, and less I could do if I was dead. If I got a strong enough class, and could actually do something about it, I wonder if I'd be able to come back and help her. Still, no use in thinking about any of that if I died. Plus, I wanted to stay with Cici. She chose me, and I refused to let it end like this.

"Alright. Where do we go?" I asked, and Cici smiled wide as she began rubbing her face into my chest, her ears tickling my face.

"Hey! Hey! Easy there, love." I said, laughing at the sensations.

"Mmm. Your love. I like that." She said in contentment as she just laid down on top of me again.

It just kinda came out, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that way. I loved her when she was my cat, and that didn't change just because she transformed into a person. I just had to get used to new feelings I felt for her as a result. She loved me, and it was as more than just a caretaker, or a friend. She wanted to be... my lover. And you know, I'd be damned if I died on her now, without even getting to know the proper Cici.

"I'm going to do this, Cici. I accepted my death a while ago, but now..." I looked at her, and without even hesitating, I kissed the top of her head, making her purr and nuzzle into my neck, "I have something to lose. Something very precious, and I won't leave you alone without a fight. It's worth a try."

"I'm scared to go back..." She mumbled into my neck, "But, if it means saving you... I'll do anything. My mom would be so confused if I told her I fell in love with a human..." She grew quiet after that, and I just held her.

I didn't tell her this, because I didn't want to get her hopes up, but if I got there and it actually gave me a good class, there might be something we could do to help her people, and her family, provided they were still alive. That's if...

"Whenever you are ready to go, Cici, we can get dressed. You'll have to help me a little bit." I told her, and she smiled at me as she leaned up and kissed me again.

Her kisses were much more than I'd gotten from Rach in a long time. They were softer, more gentle, more caring, and conveyed a deeper sense of love and longing that I've miseed for quite some time. This made it crystal clear to me now. Rachel fell out of love with me a long time ago, and I was just pretending like everything was okay. But this girl, right here, she was worth fighting for.

"Let me just enjoy snuggling for a bit longer." She said as she rested her head on my chest.

I ran my hands through her hair, playing with her cute little ears, making them twitch. I smiled at the sight.

"Anything you want." I muttered as her soft purrs soothed my soul.