...or more proof that B/A isn't just a figment of my imagination

Alternate Canons

Aside from the anime, the canon I and most Spider Rider fans are most familiar with, there's several other alternate canons out there. Much to my surprise, I discovered that the Buguese/Aqune pairing exists in some of these canons as well.

The (Defunct) Online Game
Okay, so I don't play the game that often. Doesn't run too well on my computer. However, I did discover a B/A scene in it, and nearly had a heart attack as a result. When you deal the final blow against Aqune, Buguese shows up to stop you. After that, the two of them soon leave, so I'm not sure what happens when you face off against them later on. In any case, I screencapped what I have now.
Aqune in battle.
Buguese to the rescue.
And here they are standing close to eachother.

B/A Cards (Note that all the game cards are generally sadistic to the Insectors, and feel free to join with me in gloating over the fact that the game canon sonsideres Aqune to be with them rather than the Riders.)
Aqune the human popsicle
Buguese vs. the toxic slime
Buguese's sword
Aqune's sword
A screencap of Aqune from ep. 18
A (droolworthy) screencap of Buguese from ep. 18

The Manga
The manga, while unfortunately stalled indefinitely, gave yet another alternate take on the story of the anime. Buguese made his first appearance in chapter 7 and fights against Hunter. Aqune herself doesn't show up until chapter 9, but she's not alone. Basically, Hunter and Corona come across her visiting a grave, and while there, they talk briefly and they give her a flower. However, Buguese then appears to attack. He wraps Aqune in his cape (and Corona's resulting reaction is priceless) and then she comes out wearing her mask. After a battle, Buguese and Aqune retreat, and Aqune places the flower on a table next to her mask from Buguese. In the end, she gets rid of the flower. I have no idea if there's any kind of symbolism in there, but it almost seems like it shows how Aqune values both Buguese and the Spider Riders. However, she has to let go of the Riders, because her objective to help the Insectors now is more important, so she doesn't keep the flower.
Apologies for the slight blurriness of the scans. I didn't make them. They came from Shounen Fang's website, and are no longer accessible there.
Buguese knows how to make an entrance
Unsurprisingly, Hunter's making accusations already...
Though, I suppose it's justified.
I like Hunter, but he can be such an idiot.
I love how freaked Corona is at Buguese holding Aqune
They learn that Aqune's a Spider Rider right away in the manga
They're going to fly away now.
Oh, and leave Hunter and corona with a Big Machine-sector to fight.
Top left panel is all that matters here.
That whole thing with the flower that I mentioned above

The Novels
Upon reading through the second novel, I was very disappointed to see a lack of presence of the Insectors. I have not read the other two books, but I've been spoiled to death enough about them to know that the Insectors don't have a greater role in either of them. Therefore, Buguese/Aqune interaction is minimal. I did notice though, much to my amusement, that while Beerain and Grasshop immediately take a disliking to novel!Aqune, Buguese is the only one who can stand her. Later, he actually saves her too, by carrying her to safety (totally against her will, I might add, because novel Aqune likes to kill) while she's tryng to fight the Spider Riders. She was outnumbered though, of course. Kind of interesting. If they ever interact again in future novels, I could see them perhaps developing a little further. I guess it just goes to show that Buguese can never hate Aqune, even if her personality is so distorted like it is in the novels. (And this, by the way, is not an insult to novel Aqune. I think her evil personality is cool.)

Then, there's the 4th novel. Sadly, it seems to be stalled indefinitely. But it has some quite... glaring BxA. Only downside of it is that Aqune's personality seems to have been retconned to make her more like her anime self. But basically, Aqune is trying to save Buguese, who's stuck in a cocoon, but she needs to get back Portia to do so. She cuddles him and thinks of him as a saviour. So umm... take that as you will. Okay, it's mildly creepy, but still.

The Original Spoilers
Once upon a time, Teletoon put out a press release for Spider Riders, containing character bios and brief summaries of each episode. At this time, the series wasn't even half way completed in Canada or Japan, so these served as huge spoilers despite their lack of detail. For the first half of the series, the episodes played out exactly how the spoilers told, but then something strange happened. Suddenly, the actual products that aired were vastly different from the original plans. Both plot points and the personal histories of characters were changed. Therefore, I see it as almost a canon of its own. There was, however, still B/A.
Apparently, Aqune had been treated as an exile in her own village for helping an injured Insector. It claims that this was the same Insector who took her in. As the first half was pretty much identical, it's safe to assume that in this version, Buguese was still the Insector who took her in. Therefore, apparently Buguese and Aqune had been in contact even before Aqune was with the Insectors, if she had helped him. While Aqune's past is still unkown in the official canon, it's not likely that this holds true. The only thing that even possibly alludes to it was a line used only in the dub of episode 5. The following are episode summaries that had potential for some Buguese/Aqune moments:

32- Aqune's Secret- Hunter regains consciousness ashore, with Corona and Magma are beside him. They have strayed from Lumen's group, and decide to head towards Numa to rejoin Lumen's group again. In front of them, Aqune appears. While they combat, together they are confined in Numa's unexplored region, the "Memory Sealed Cave". Aqune regains her memory in this cave...
I'm assuming we'd get to see some pre-series B/A here.

34- Escape from the Sealed Cave- Being exhausted from battles, legendary hero Brade leads a secluded life. Brade puts Hunter's group to the test when they ask his cooperation to fight against the Insector Army Corps and to gather the missing statue pieces. They endure Brade's test with the power of friendship and together escape the cave with magic power. But, Aqune, who regains her memory, rejoins an evil group. Brade worries about this incident, remembering the past.
So, does that mean Aqune purposely goes back to Buguese?

36- Reunion and Farewell- Hunter begs Brade to be a Hero again. But Brade leaves without telling where he goes. Buguese Insector Army Corps and Aqune's Corps together attack them to obtain missing pieces A & B. Hunter can't fight against Aqune. Lumen's group appears to save them at this critical time. The Spider Riders are reunited and head for Numa.
Fighting together. Aw...

41- A Flame- Mantid gloats over gaining piece C. He holds piece D which he obtained in the past as well. Mantid calls Aqune to release the pieces, all a while keeping it secret from the Big Four. Aqune fights with her contradictory feelings. Buguese worries that Aqune is becoming increasingly fatigued. In the meantime, Hunter and his group find the location of the headquarters of the Insector Army Corps.
I would pay good money to see this. Bet it would've been an adorable episode.

44- Good and Evil- The Spider Riders are on the move! Sparkle is travelling with Grasshop, and Buguese wonders about Aqune's anguish concerning this strategy. He questions the goal of the Insector Army Corps. The unreconcilable gap between humanoid and insect is in question, and Beerain swears her renewed loyalty and Buguese swears it too. Mantid waits for the day of embodiment of his ambition.
More proof that Buguese is always concerned over his human.

45- A Brother and Sister- The Spider Riders close in near the border of the Insector Empire. The Empire is protected by a strong barrier. The enemy's preemptive attack awaits Hunter's group. Aqune regains herself with help of the devoted care of Magma, Brutus and Corona's Maiden power. Now, Porsia is back to Brutus. But Buguese takes Aqune away again.
Because Buguese is uber-possessive.

46- Welcome Back- The Spider Riders are helpless in front of the barrier. Meanwhile, Mantid tries to dispose Aqune who is about to regain herself. Buguese rescues Aqune, as he has been questioning himself about being an Insector. Aqune joins the Spider Riders with the piece C.
Well, this sounds vaguely familiar, but seeing Buguese actually protect Aqune from Mantid would've been cool.

Of course, on the flip-side, it seems quite possible that Buguese could've died for real in the original version, in episode 50.