Hello, all! I figured since I loved HitsuKarin so much, I might as well challenge myself to write a drabble about them once a week. I plan to write all sorts of genres, so I hope everyone will find something they like. I'll keep the summary section updated so it features the most current drabble. Now, without further ado - enjoy!

Oh, wait, I almost forgot the disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. If I did, several arcs would not exist.

Prompt: FLAG

Word limit: 500 words

Summary: Racecar-driver AU. She's the young, female upstart following in her older brother's ill-fated footsteps. He's the vertically-challenged genius who was born to race. Apart, they both have impressive track records, and are slowly spinning out of control. But together, they might just have what it takes to break world records, and keep themselves anchored in the here and now, instead of the demons of their pasts.

Genre: Action/Drama

Characters: Karin Kurosaki, Toushirou Hitsugaya

Carpe Diem

She learned long ago that life is fleeting; that if you want it, you have to seize the moment, because otherwise it'll slip away from you, and leave you in its dust.

She likes to apply this knowledge to all situations in life, and it works surprisingly well, especially when she's on the race track, in second place on the last lap, riding the draft of the car in front of her, waiting for just the right moment to press the gas and slip around her opponent on that inside turn, resulting in the kind of last-minute upset she's become famous for.

It's after one of these victories that he first approaches her.

She's just managed to slip away from the celebrations, and is reaching into her pocket for the good stuff, when his voice, low and husky and cold as ice, startles her.

"If anyone finds out, you could get suspended for that, you know."

Her muscles tense, her hand retracts from her pocket, and she looks up through her lashes with her slate gray eyes, sees him as a blur illuminated by the lights coming off the nearby race track, hair like snow and eyes bluish-green enough to match the temperature of his voice, keeps her voice a casual, slow drawl as she says, "Don't know what you're talking about."

He snorts and lifts an eyebrow, unimpressed, "Whatever you say."

Her lips curl into a sneer, "What do you want? I thought you were too good to step foot on a second-rate track like this, Mr. Big Leagues."

"I see you know who I am," he observes, assessing her slowly, "Good, that makes this next part much easier."

He steps forward, close enough that she realizes his nickname – Hitsugaya the Short Speed Dragon – isn't just for show.

"I've been watching you for a while now," he says, and oh, isn't that creepy (and kind of flattering – a Formula One racer is keeping track of her progress?)

"I want to compete in the Hueco Mundo Road Race, sponsored by Sousuke Aizen, and I want you to be my partner, Karin Kurosaki," he announces, and she freezes, her mind flooding with memories that leave her chilled down to the very bone (we'reverysorrytotellyou but there'sbeenanaccident and yourbrother'svanishedoverthecliff and we'vebeenunabletofindhim).

(It's been three years, but she still can't sleep well at night for the fear and anger and the questions that haunt her, the shadows that shroud her brother's disappearance.)

"Why me?" she asks.

"Because you're very good at what you do," Hitsugaya replies, eyes flashing and flickering and mesmerizing, "and, like me, you have questions you want answered."

She thinks perhaps it's time she faced her demons, and that if the so-called genius that was born to race is offering to help her, it'll be the best chance she'll ever get.

"Okay," she says, and the corners of her lips twitch upwards, "partner."

They shake on it, and the next day they send in their registration form, and begin to prepare.

So, what did you think? I deliberately left things kind of ambiguous, so use your imagination to fill in the blanks! :) Please drop me a line and tell me what you liked, didn't like, how I could improve, etc. A writer cannot grow without constructive criticism. I am also open to accepting one-word prompts, if you have something you'd like to see me weave a 500-word story around.

Enjoy the summer (or winter, depending on which hemisphere you live in)!

~Home By Another Way