Somehow, of course, they ended up talking about Gaara. Sakura couldn't help laughing.
"He's very popular with the ladies here isn't he?" She said.
Misa nodded, grinning, but Aki was more reserved. "He's popular with everyone." She said. "We all admire our Kazekage."
Misa nudged Sakura. "But especially us ladies."
Sakura shook her head. "When I first met Gaara, I was actually quite terrified of him. Even after that, I never would have imagined him to be a ladies' man."
"He's not a 'ladies' man'." Aki protested. "He is very honest; I don't think he's ever approached anyone." Sakura bit her lip at that comment. She hoped he hadn't approached anyone; at least, not since he had approached her. What would Aki say, if she knew? Sakura took another look at Aki, and was surprised to see her staring right back at her. Sakura resisted squirming – maybe Aki did know something after all.
Misa went on, oblivious. "That's part of what makes him so attractive. He's so aloof. Or at least, he was. I don't know, since he returned from Konoha he's been different somehow. He's more approachable now. He doesn't seem so unattainable."
Sakura frowned in mock concern. "And does this make him less attractive?"
Misa shook her head. "Not at all. At first, his change was strange, but now that we've gotten used to him, he's somehow even more attractive than before, now that it actually seems like we might have a chance."
Aki shook her head at Misa. "You speak as though every woman in the city thinks just like you." She turned to Sakura and told her. "Misa's really just speaking for herself. She's had a crush on the Kazekage ever since he became one."
"And what about you Aki?" Misa asked in an accusing tone. "Why else did you go work for him?"
Aki shook her head. "I admire our Kazekage very much." She said. "And I care about our nation. I'm working for him because I want to protect our city and the people here, almost as much as he does."
Sakura stared at Aki for a moment, touched by the younger woman's sentiment. Aki blushed when she saw Sakura staring, and Sakura smiled at her. Sakura found her quite admirable now, after she had expressed her feelings in so noble and earnest a manner.
Misa snorted, ruining the moment. "Whatever. I know you're just there because you think he's hot; you've told me enough times you think so."
"Shut up!" Aki hissed at Misa. Sakura laughed.