Buds was like a robot that seem to have lost a few screws and batteries. He had ignored almost completely all the people all around him. He was quiet, so remote, so... isolated. Yet, inside, he was bitter, angry, suicidal, and almost homicidal.

It was a bit clear to those who knew him well. He is crippled, something he wanted to avoid. He had dreams in becoming a great basketball player, and even wanted to play in Rucker Park as his ultimate dream. He wanted to face Bone Collector, or maybe the 'Lord of the Rings' Kobe Bryant.

Now, his chances are gone... for good.

Sakura Seasons: True Love

Chapter 03b: Gift of Misato; What is Love?

His whole left arm, except his fingers, were in a cast except his left leg, so he would always walk around with crutches. Put that, and a boy's shattered dreams, it gets ugly when a certain person just comes and annoys him.

"Mr. Venturanza!" a female voice called from behind Buds. The boy flinched as he recognized the voice. He turned around.

"Yes, Ms. Misato?" Buds asked, with dread in his voice. Misato ignored him.

Ms. Misato was what Buds calls his nurse. She was a pretty bombshell, with nice purple hair and somewhat young looking face and young sounding voice. It was really a surprise when Buds found out that she was 30 years old.

But the charm faded away as the nurse seems to not leave him alone! Why can't she understand that? He can take care of himself! He was 19, for god's sake! Why did she have to treat him like a little boy?!

"I have told you lots, lotslotslotslots, and lots of times, don't go out on your own!" Misato said angrily, pointing her index finger towards Buds. "And what do I see here?"

"Leave me alone, Ms. Misato," Buds grumbled sourly. "I can take care of myself."

"Oh, no you don't! I have had enough with your –I am tougher than you think- attitude!" Misato rolled out a wheelchair, and pointed her finger towards it. "Sit!"

Buds' eyes showed annoyance. He ignored her, turned his back on her, and walked away. Misato twitched. Ooh, the boy was really annoying her. She took out her arms, and forcefully placed them in his two shoulders without hurting him, and began to drag him towards the wheelchair.

"OW! HEY!" Buds complained as he tried to escape her grasp. He couldn't, two of his limbs not functioning properly. "STOP IT YOU CRAZY OLD HAG! THIS IS HARASSMENT!"

Misato twitched at the old hag remark, and with more strength, she forced him to sit in the wheelchair. Buds slumped, defeated, but the frown on his face was deeper than ever as Misato pushed him towards the canteen.

Later, the frown turned to a scowl as Misato pushed him all the way. The nurse had dictated the cook what Buds was going to have for lunch, pushing him towards a table, and now, she was trying to feed him.

"Say 'ah'!" Misato said, holding a spoon near Buds.

"Ah yourself!" Buds grunted, and took turned his head to his left, avoiding the spoon, which Misato was giving to him. "Why the hell do you always have to embarrass me?"

"Embarrass you?" Misato exclaimed, confused. "I'm just helping you!"

"No, you are embarrassing me!" Buds retorted. "I'm not some helpless boy, okay? I won't allow you to continually treat me this way!"

"Oh, quiet you," Misato said, as she took her arm and grabbed Buds head, and forced it t look at her. Buds wouldn't let her, though, as he shook his head a bit to and try to escape Misato's attack. Misato would not have that though, as she stood up, and used both hands to try to make Buds look at her.

Finally, after a grueling battle, Misato was able to straighten his head, and locked it in that position with a well-placed hand under the chin. Now, with her other hand free, she took a spoon, and forced it towards Buds' clamped mouth.

"Hmphmg!" Buds muttered, as he the food entered his mouth. It was a small amount, and it took only a few seconds to swallow. When he did, he glared at Misato. "HEY! STOP IT OLD HAG!"

Misato twitched, took her hand out, and slapped Buds lightly behind his head with her hand which held the spoon a moment ago. Buds became angry.

"STOP IT OLD HAG!" and he was yet awarded with another slap, this time much stronger than the last one. Buds dropped his head, but to Misato's surprise, he didn't raise it again.

"Hey, Buds, you okay?" Misato asked, raising Buds' head. She was sure she didn't hit him that hard!

To her surprise, Buds' eyes were in tears. "I wish you would just leave me alone..." he said, his voice bordering sadness and anger.

Misato stared at the boy for a long time, and sighed deeply. She nodded, and stood up slowly, and began to walk away, leaving the boy to just looking at his food. When the boy finally left, after 30 minutes, Misato came back, and saw that he didn't even touch his food.

=Tokyo U; Same Time=

"That is all..." the professor said, as he stood up, fixed his books, and began walking away.

The student body sighed as they tried to remember, or even understand what the prof just said. Ryouga was not didn't even know where it all began. He got lost when the prof started about Sentences is made of words, and Concept is made of ideas.

Ranma forgot about the Philosophy1 lesson, and was more worried about Buds. The boy had disappeared from the face of Tokyo U, and was never heard off for the past week.

The profs never seem to mention Buds' name during the roll call, so Ranma guessed that they knew where he was. The former was worried. He really was.

"Ran-chan?" a voice called him from behind. Ranma freezes a bit, and turns around, only to see Yuka looking at him.

"I really have to get used to hear you call me that," Ranma replied, smiling. "Sorry, Yuka-chan, just worried about someone..."

"Buds, right?" Yuka asked.

Ranma nodded. "Yes... it was like he just disappeared. What if he transferred?"

Yuka laughed. "Come on, Ran-chan. You don't think Buds would most likely abandon this place, now would you?"

Ranma looked at Yuka, a small smile in his face. "Yeah... you are right, Yuka-chan. Thanks."

Yuka didn't reply, but lunged at Ranma, and gave him a hug. Ranma smiled, hugged her back, and the two began to walk away, hand to hand...

=Tokyo General; Next Day=

Buds was having another dreamless sleep.

After the accident, and operation, Buds noticed that his dreams were a void of black and gray colors. He didn't know why, though. He would have great dreams before, where he would bounce a basketball over someone's head, flying high in the sky, and dunking a basketball.

Right now, he had no dreams, no hope, and no life. Buds always found himself inside a black hole where no sound and light could escape from it.

"Hello!" Buds called. 'Hello' was echoed multiple of times, then stopped after what seemed to be the 20th time. "Anyone here?"

Then, like an answer from heaven, alight suddenly shone brightly, that Buds had to cover his eyes a bit. A figure stood, the darkness covering his or her figure, looking at him. Buds backed away.

"W-who are you?!" Buds demanded.

The figure didn't reply, and just approached him. Finally, the light showed some parts of the figure. What Buds could only see was the figure was a she, and had purple hair. "Mi-Misato!"

The figure bent her head, and her lips were about to touch his when Buds felt something shake him...

++++++++

"Wake up!" Misato said cheerfully, waking Buds by shaking him in his shoulders. Buds' eyes blinked multiple of times, before he opened it fully.

The light came out brightly out of the window in the room where Buds stayed. Usually, Buds would just shut it up, as not to let sunlight disturb him, but now it was open, and the boy correctly guessed that Misato opened it.

"What is it?" Buds groaned, rubbing his eyes a bit.

"I'm taking you out!" Misato said happily, dragging Buds to sit up. Still a bit weak since he just woke up, Buds just groaned as body made some quick movements. He was also still a bit stunned when Misato took off his shirt, and changed it.

"Leave me alone..." Buds muttered, and he sleepily fell down the bed. Misato groaned, and slapped him. "Ow!"

"Come on! Wake up!" Misato said, dragging him up again.

"Old... hag..."

Misato twitched. It was going to be a long day.

++++++++

"Where are you bringing me?" Buds asked, annoyed. Misato had dragged him in another wheelchair, and she was pushing him somewhere in the hospital area. Buds didn't exactly know where, but then thought he would know, sooner or later... unless Misato was really an assassin in disguise, trying to kill him since he was witness to the one who was driving the car that hit him...

Buds scolded himself quietly. He had some type of annoying imagination that would make him rethink that he was sane. There were lots of times where he contemplated to be writer. He laughed quietly.

Yeah right, Buds, a writer! Ha! And he would use some type of pseudo-name like Omega, and add an X at the end just to make it sound cooler. He would write about Ranma being a Maverick hunter just like in Megaman X4, or maybe make him a Saiyan, or even make him like Neo, where instead we have the Matrix, he'll make it into Crystal Tokyo...

Buds laughed out a bit, which surprised Misato a bit. The woman stopped pushing the wheelchair, and looked at Buds with the longest stare she ever did to him.

Not surprisingly, since the boy, ever since she met him, was all quiet and moody for some reason. He never did tell her why, or even what happened to him. There were rumors flying around that he was a hero, having saved a girl's life. Unfortunately, the rumors died because of Buds' mood swings, as it had scared most of the people away from him... maybe except Misato.

Misato had a feeling that the boy was more than he seemed. He was sore, he was angry, and filled with depression, she could feel it. There were also times where he would annoy her to death, but there are also times where the boy would somehow show his true self, stripping down the iron curtain he put up to isolate himself to the others. Misato saw it during the first day the patient woke up with his mother.

They talked in a foreign language, but it was clear in their voices that the boy felt defeat. He had cried almost an hour before calming down, and his mother was also not better. From that day on, Misato vowed to help him, and right now, she was going to.

++++++++

"?" was all Buds could say as Misato lead him towards a room of a young girl.

"Hey, Miyu, what's up!" Misato greeted the young girl.

Miyu, in Buds' opinion was going to be very pretty when she grows up. Seemingly a young kid, whose age is between maybe 9 to 12, she had short brown hair and wonderful brown eyes. Her head moved a bit, and smiled as Misato entered.

"Misa-san!" Miyu greeted happily. "You visited!" and a frown formed in her face. "What took you!"

Misato smiled, and pointed at Buds in the wheelchair. "Sorry, I had to take care of the new kid."

Buds grit his teeth. "I am not a kid!"

Misato ignored him. "He needs a bit of work. He's been depressed lately, and as much as I want to watch over him, I need to be everywhere else, so I thought, why don't you entertain him!"

Miyu looked at Buds sour face, and slowly, she began to giggle. Buds found himself a bit annoyed, as it seems the girl was laughing at him.

"What?!" he asked, a bit nastily. The girl didn't seem to mind, as she still smiled serenely.

"He has such a funny face with that scowl," Miyu replied, and made a mock angry face, trying to imitate Buds. "And his mean face is even more uglier..."

Misato burst out laughing, and went over to mess up with Miyu's hair gently. "Heh, that was funny, Miyu."

"I don't find it funny," Buds muttered.

Misato continued laughing. "Well, Miyu-chan, I'll be leaving him here, alright? Try not to bore him, okay."

Miyu pouted mockingly, and made pretended to be annoyed. "Oh, Misa-san! Do you always have to bring your unwanted baggage here?"

"Whatever, kid," Misato said as she turned around and walked away.

++++++++

Buds looked at the young girl still in bed, a scowl still in his face. Misato forced him here, and right now, she had left him alone. What was the woman planning this time?

"Hey!" Miyu smiled at Buds. "How are you?"

"Fine," Buds muttered neutrally. "Just a bit angry that Misato woke me up in my sleep and forcefully dressed me up, and sent me here to you."

"Oh..." Miyu replied, still smiling, "you don't like me?"

Buds stared at her with narrowed eyebrows. "What? It's not that."

"Then what is it?" Miyu asked. Buds looked at her for a moment, and sighed.

Is it really worth telling her? Buds thought. For the whole week, he had told his mother to contact the University about his condition, but not to tell them, or anyone, even Ranma, what happened. He had also asked his mom to relay the same message to Mrs. Nodoka. It was not really that he wanted to hide something, but more of not wanting to be a subject of pity.

"Misato is always treating me like I am a helpless kid," Buds finally replied, a bit angry. "She thinks I am all helpless and a cripple." He moved his arm with a cast a bit. "See this? In four days time, the doctors say they can remove it, and I would be released, and I just want to be left alone. Why can't that... dumb woman understand that?!"

Miyu listened to the boy without interrupting, her face showing her being deep in thought. Buds wonder if he should have even spoke to her about it, and before Buds could tell her to forget everything he said, she spoke.

"Well, Misa-san is always like that..." Miyu replied softly. "You see, she just wants everyone to be fine, so she would sometimes overreact to some stuff, and act all loving and all... Take me for example..."

Buds looked at the girl again. Her smile was smaller than before, but nevertheless, she didn't seem to be angry, sad or even annoyed as she was opening a part of her in front of Buds. "What about you?" he asked, now curious.

"I may be the reason why Misato treats you like a kid..." the girl smiled sheepishly. "I'm crippled from the neck down, since my spine is broken..."

Buds' eyes suddenly widened, and looked at the girl with utter disbelief. The sweet girl in front of him was crippled in the worse than he was! "Holy... I... I didn't know..." Buds suddenly muttered, feeling so foolish. His mind opened fully as he reviews again what the girl had said.

I... I'm so selfish... Buds thought as he looked down the floor. He wanted to hit himself! He had been so down, so angry at what he had become, yet this girl, this young innocent girl had a much bigger problem than he had, and she was smiling like it was nothing!

"I... I'm so sor..."

"Don't be," the girl interrupted, smiling a bit more widely this time. "It's actually not much different. I just don't feel my body parts..." and she giggled. Buds looked at her, and found out that her giggle was very infectious, and he too giggled. The two burst out into a fit of laughter.

"Thanks..." Buds finally said. "Thanks for cheering me up."

Miyu grinned, and then looked like she was thinking. Finally, after a minute, she motioned her neck towards one of the corners of the room. Buds followed her stare, and gasped.

In one of the corners, laid a acoustic, simple, yet beautifully made guitar, and beside the guitar had some papers, no doubt that it would be notes. Spinning the wheels in his wheelchair, he slowly approached the guitar, and took a closer look at it.

"May I?" Buds asked, looking back at Miyu. The girl nodded, and so taking the guitar with his right hand, and letting it rest on his lap, he took the papers with his right hand.

Opining the notes, he found himself looking at some notes, and some of the lyrics. Buds found himself mesmerized as he read the notes. It all came back to him... the finger positions, the sounds of the guitar... He readied his left arm [his fingers were free] and began to play a simple note, then followed the notes carefully, and began singing.

"Isn't it ironic..." Buds began, his tempo and flow was a bit slow. "Its like ra-yne... in your wedding day... it's a free ri-ide, when you just already paid... it's a good advice, that you just didn't... oh shit, I missed a note..."

Miyu giggled, and Buds found himself surprised again. He sighed. He really wanted to hit himself again. Not only did he use the guitar without Miyu's permission, but he also cursed in front of her. He was about to apologize, when Miyu clapped at him.

"That was great! I never knew you knew how to play!" Miyu exclaimed.

"It wasn't that great," Buds replied, lowering the guitar. "I did play before, but that was like 6 years ago. I became rusty."

"Really? Then that's great!" Miyu replied. "That means in four days, before you are released, you can entertain me while you practice. I can't play anymore, ever since the accident, so I though you would do for me. Will you?"

Buds nodded happily. "Sure!" and with that, he took out the guitar and began to play for her again.

++++++++

Miyu was a great help for Buds, who for once didn't seem to be in such negative moods. Misato noticed it at once, when she came back to pick up Buds from Miyu's room, and found him singing in a silly song and expression while Miyu was laughing herself to death. She was glad Buds finally found a friend. Of course, she congratulated herself.

Buds smiled more than ever, almost greeting everyone happily, something he never did before. His cheerful mood came back, and for the next few days, he visited Miyu daily, where he would play and practice with her.

Not only that, with his cheerful mode, he begun to see Misato with a new light. The nurse who had constantly annoyed him was really a beautiful woman. Many times, Buds found himself mesmerized as she helped multiple patients, always smiling at them, cheering for them. No matter how bad it was, her cheery attitude made her a beautiful, inside and outside.

Slowly, but surely, Buds felt drawn to her like he never felt before. Of course, he didn't actually know, but he was looking forward to her visits. It wasn't until Miyu pointed it out to him about a day before he was going to be released.

It was a few hours before the doctors would remove his cast, and Buds was inside Miyu's room, playing.

"Looks like someone is in love with his nurse," Miyu said murmured. Buds suddenly stopped playing, his face blushing a bit.

"Excuse me?" he asked, not really believing what he had heard.

"I said you are in love with Misa-san..." Miyu repeated. Buds shook his head, and began to hit it again. Miyu frowned. "Oh, don't you deny it! It's so obvious!"

"What is?" Buds asked.

"The way you sing more love songs, or the way you look at Misa-san. My dad looks at mom the same way, for your info..." Miyu replied. Buds blushed brightly this time.

"No I don't..." Buds replied. Miyu glared at him, and Buds relented a bit. "Well... maybe..."

Miyu smiled a bit, and then frowned. "Well, since we come to that, I have to tell you something..."

But before she could, the door on Miyu's room opened, and Misato came in with a small smile. "Well, sorry for cutting your time short today, but Buds will be having his limbs freed from those awful casts," Misato said, smiling.

"Misato!" Buds greeted, raising his right hand. Miyu smiled too.

"I hope I wasn't disturbing anything," Misato began. The nurse walked towards Buds' wheelchair, and grabbed hold of the handles. "Anyway, ready, Buds?"

Buds smiled at Misato, and nodded excitedly. Misato grinned and began to push Buds away, leaving Miyu frowning...

++++++++

It was a few hours ago when Misato left Buds in the care of the doctors and therapists. It was not enough for someone to have the cast removed, but it would take time for Buds to regain motor control of his limbs, especially the legs, which he hasn't used for almost a week.

Misato frowned... for the first time she frowned. If anyone asks, it is because of one thing. She had overheard what Miyu and Buds talking about her...

Misato was actually flattered, and a bit giddy to hear that Buds seem to be interested in her, but she shook her head.

No way! This isn't high school where you can do foolish stuff! Misato thought. She was 30, for God's sake! And here, she was, contemplating a relationship with a 19 year old kid. She shook her head.

Maybe she did feel somehow attracted to Buds, at first with his cool demeanor and cold mysterious attitude. Then, when it changed with cheerful and pleasantly friendly Buds, she felt another shock in her system.

But she shook her head... She couldn't do this. With that, Misato stood up, and walked away.

Unknown to her, Buds, who was finally walking with a support of a crutch, and he saw her walk away. He followed her.

++++++++

Misato walked towards the corridor, and slowly approached the lounge room, where doctors usually spend their time when they were not called or on duty. She paused a bit and took a deep breath. She knocked first, then entered, seeing a lone male inside.

"Kaji..." she called. The man turned, and smiled at her.

"Mi-chan, how are you... UMPH!" the man was cut off as Misato lunged and kissed him.

Outside, one boy just witnessed the whole thing with wide eyes.

=Juuban General, the next day; Miyu's room=

Miyu was quite sensitive of the feelings around her. It was... let's say an advantage of not feeling her limbs. Her senses were enhanced... either that, or it was so obvious that Buds had something very heavy in his mind. He played the guitar like crap, and he got his lyrics wrong. Now, how would she respond to that?

Well, maybe Buds was excited about being released. It was today, actually, and in a few hours of time, Buds would walk out forever. Miyu was saddened by the thought. Then, she remembered.

"Oh, Buds, do you remember what we were talking about yesterday?" Miyu asked. "About Misa-san? I forgot to tell you something."

Buds stiffened a bit, and growled softly, unheard by Miyu. "What is it?" Buds asked reluctantly.

"Misa-san has a fiancé!" Miyu replied in a dreamy voice. "His name is Kaji, and he is one of the doctors here. They met about 3 years ago, and were planning to marry. Sigh... Misa-san is so lucky!"

Buds blinked, as his mind tried to register what he just heard. "Excuse me?"

"I said Misa-san was lucky..."

"No, the first part!" Buds suddenly exclaimed. Miyu looked at him weirdly.

"Misa-san has a fiancé named Kaji, and they are going to marry soon..." Miyu said in an even tone. Buds suddenly looked blank, and then laughed out loud. Miyu looked at the boy curiously. "What? Something in my face?" she asked, and began to move her cheeks and tongue, trying to remove anything which made her face look funny. Buds just laughed harder.

"Sorry, Miyu, just remembering something," Buds replied, as he finally understood why Misato had kissed the man. Quite a shock for him, and he had been in a brooding mood this morning, avoiding Misato, and walking to Miyu without the help of his crutches. He smiled, and bent his left arm a bit, and felt some strain as he bent it near the limit. Taking position, he began to play the guitar he was holding with a new tune, mixing up the notes in a graceful manner, which had left Miyu speechless.

When Buds was done, Miyu cheered. "Wow! That was so beautiful!"

"Well, its my last day here with you," Buds replied, smiling. Putting the guitar down, he gently messed up Miyu's hair. "My mom and her friend will be picking me up about..." he checked the watch in the room, and gasped a bit. "Oh geez! I lost track of time! They'll be here any minute!" Buds stood up, and was about to leave when Miyu called him.

"Buds... please take the guitar with you," Miyu said. Buds stopped to his tracks, and looked at her.

"Huh?" Buds wondered. "Why?"

Miyu grinned. "When I was young, I had hoped to become a great guitarist, and become an artist... but after the accident, I have no hope in fulfilling my dream," she frowned a bit. "But after hearing you play, I thought... maybe you deserved it. You can still play, and you play great."

Buds looked at Miyu with narrowed eyes. "I... I thank you, Miyu-chan, but," Buds thought if he was going to deny her, then stopped himself. He would only be insulting her. He made his decision. "Thank you very much, Miyu-chan, although you surprise me. For a young kid, you sure talk like an adult. Maybe in a few years, I'll wait for you, neh?" he teased.

Miyu giggled. "Sorry, Buds-kun, but I prefer boys younger than me," and both Buds and Miyu laughed.

It was the last laugh they shared, as Buds walked out of her room, leaving his friend, and moved on.

++++++++

Buds' mom scolded him for being late, and questioned the guitar. Buds would only reply, "It was given by a friend," and his mom didn't question further.

Mrs. Nodoka was there as well, greeting him, and bowing very deeply at him as thanks for saving her daughter. Buds had to hold her up because she was unconsciously embarrassing him. Rana didn't make it that time because she had school to attend to.

But it wasn't until the time the three figures left the building that Buds finally found his goodbyes complete.

"Oh, and please come visit us more often," Nodoka stated to Buds as they left the building. "Rana has been worried about you, and I told her you would be fine."

Buds smiled at the woman. "Yes, Nodoka-san, I would love to visit Rana-chan soon," and he pointed at his guitar. "I got some good tunes I want her to hear." Looking at his mom, he gave a small frown. "I am quitting the basketball club, and join the music club."

His mom nodded. "You are 19. You can make any decision you want."

"Thanks!" Buds replied, and looked forward, and was surprised to see someone familiar woman. "Misato?" Buds whispered, and began to walk towards the woman.

Nodoka and his mom seem to leave him alone as Buds, although almost ungracefully walked towards Misato without the help of his crutches. When Misato and Buds were face to face, Misato gave a small smile to Buds.

"Here," Misato said, handing a bouquet of flowers towards Buds. "Congratulations in recovering. I thought maybe this would..."

Misato was cut off as Buds suddenly embraced her softly. Misato found herself blushing as she felt the boy's warm body next to hers.

"I love you..." he said. Misato frowned, and was about to tell him that it would not work, when Buds continued talking. "And I know you are in love with someone else. All I can say is good luck, and invite me to your wedding." And with that, he released his hold.

Misato looked at the boy curiously. "Huh? Who told you?"

"Miyu-chan," Buds replied softly, smiling at her. "She told me today, as she gave me her guitar." And with that, he pointed at his guitar.

Misato whistled. "Whoa... she must really like you to give you her most prized possession..." and she suddenly looked at Buds with a very naughty grin. "Is there something going to happen between you two?"

Buds laughed softly. "Nah. She stated she only likes younger men," and he finally took the bouquet. "Thanks, Misa-san. For everything..."

Misato grinned at the boy. "Hey, when we meet again, let me meet your girlfriend. Don't ever come to me without one!" she took out her fist and began to give Buds a gently noogie.

"Ow! Ow! Okay! Okay!" Buds complained mockingly, laughing softly. "I'll make you meet her, and make you so jealous that you would have wished you wanted me instead," he joked. Misato laughed, and hugged the boy for the last time.

The final scene was seen as Buds smiling widely as he looked forward to the next few days. His grew up a bit more maturely than before, and so was Misato, who was waving at him. The two had shared a connection, no matter how briefly, which would stay in their hearts forever.

'Tis better to have love and lost then never to have loved at all, Buds thought. He frowned. Nah! It's better to have love, lost, then loved, then never to have loved at all. Looking back, Buds waved at the waving Misato. I swear, I'll have a girlfriend and introduce you to her, Misato-san.

To Be Continued...

NEXT: Ranko finally makes a move to try to own the club, but she is faced with three obstacles. Tarou, Mousse, and Aaron 'Kessen no Akuma' Savakadan!