Ayame (InuYasha)

Ayame (青いアイリス, "Blue Iris; as in the flower by the same name") is a fictional character in the anime and animanga series InuYasha.

Ayame is a wolf demon and leader of the white wolf tibre who grew up in the mountains. She is the granddaughter of the wolf elder and leader. She lives with him since her parents died. Later on, her tribe is attacked by zombies, and she and Kōga have to fight them off. This starts the Shinchinitai saga.

She has a purple iris which contains spiritual powers. She always wears it in her hair. It is one of her characteristics just like her red hair and green eyes.

When she was very young, Kōga rescued her from beign devoured by bird demons and promised to marry her when she grew up. As Kōga took Ayame home, she told him about how she was going into the mountains to train with her grandfather. He said when she got back from the mountains, that he would marry her. Kōga promised to marry her when she was little in order to reassure her that everything was going to be okay.

When he said this, Ayame spotted a lunar rainbow. This moment remained in Ayame’s heart forever, but not Kōga’s. Ayame stayed and trained in the mountains until she was 15, she came back one day, holding him to his promise, but as he currently loves Kagome he has denied recalling his promise(most likely because he doesn't want to be committed to her or because he didn't mean it).

A rivalry between Ayame and kagome develops for Kōga's affection. At first, Ayame dislikes Kagome, she specially does not like her name due to the resemblance in sound; at one point when she and Kagome meet, she says "I don't like your name, it's so close to mine." But later in the anime she is nicer towards her.

In the anime Ayame then realizes that Kōga has to avenge his tribe (earlier on, Kagura killed them) and tells him to go and avenge them after they are attacked by a demon who seeks the jewel shards. And with a farewell, Ayame leaves to the northern mountains to train. Ayame vows that she will train herself to see jewel shards like Kagome and become worthy of Kōga's affection.

Character Development
Ayame admires Kōga's stregnth and courage, but she is strong in her own right. In general her outside personality is that of a  Determined,cute, spunky, and highstrong girl who listens to her elders with great respect. At times she is sensitive and caring even with those who she places a front to those she does not seem to like.

On a side note, Ayame is a character that was made specifically for the anime in order to adjust the differences between manga and anime, and fill some plot holes in the anime. She never makes an appearance in the manga (she is mentioned in the Manga, but never appears in it).

Abilities and Attacks
Ayame throws out grass and leaves that can slice through demons, and with this she has helped save Hakkaku and Ginta, two of Kouga's wolves, from demons. She has a special Leaves & Wind attack along with her sword that is capable destroying multiple demons. Like other wolf demons, she also uses wolves for her attacks and defence.

Trivia

 * Ayame's name means "blue iris" (as in the by flower the same name) in Japanese.
 * Ayame is an anime only character. She never appears in the Manga (although she is mentioned, but is never seened).
 * Many fans have openly expressed their desire to Ayame paired up with Inuyasha as a couple.
 * Ayame also appears as a recurring character in the Inuyasha AniManga.