They always said I was a strong child.
They praised me, saying "you must be strong to not cry."
I didn't want those words at all.
So I pretended not to understand

Ayumi Hamasaki: Song for XX
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeJcG3…
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Notes
Another teaser for Ayane's upcoming Fan Fiction that still needs a title as well as the Act Cover image.

About this Render 
There were a bunch of points I tried to meet with this image like further playing with the sss node map (hence why the face and her body have slightly different shine to them)
 

1. The most important aspect of the image was dealing with Ayane as a character. It's far too easy to just make her a cold Kunoichi (because she can be) and or a stuck up bitch (because she is sometimes.) But, there is a reason for that and I wanted to develop her actual character for the longest time.
1. So, I tried to make her give a moment of showing some realistic vulnerability without nullifying any of her strength.
2. I probably could have gotten a better magic angle to really sell the intimacy of the shot using Keyshot, but then I'd lose control of the lighting which is very important to this scene. I actually wanted to make her face darker so the light behind her would come through more, but then that would defeat the point of her expression (which I put a lot of work into to get it right)
3. If anyone thinks that I'm not about the character, I submit you this. I have been waiting to get a good story idea for her. It's now laid in place, begging, middle and end. (Read what's in the poster.)
   
   

   Mature Content

   
   
   
2. Her longer hair does coincide with the amount of time that passes from the start of her story to that point.
1. It also helps sells her maturity and maybe even a impression of more vulnerability 
2. Yes, It's Kasumi's hair. Their siblings AND cousins. It's not a stretch to say Ayane growing her hair out would be similar to Kasumi's, especially so much of them physically is either very similar or straight up the same.
   
   
3. Yes, this is an actual scene from the story. A very important one.
1. If you need further visuals since I couldn't find a good environment for this, Ayane is bathing in a secluded stream in Japan. Anymore information my give it the story away. 

Sources:

Ayane - ???
Hair -     Kamson



 This means ANYWHERE!
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Dead or Alive and its characters are property of Team Ninja and Tecmo

Posed in XPS
Rendered in BlenderCycles
Post in PS