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 films comic series InuYasha.

Overview
Ayame is a cute wolf demon and leader of the white wolf tribe who grew up in the mountains. She is the granddaughter of the wolf elder and leader. She has lived with him ever since her parents died. Later on, her tribe is attacked by demons, and she and Koga have to fight them off. This starts the Shichinintai saga.

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

When she was very young, Koga rescued her from being devoured by The Birds of Paradise and promised to marry her when she grew up. As Koga 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. He did this 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 Koga's. Ayame stayed and trained in the mountains until she was older. 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).

Ayame dislikes Kagome because she feels that Koga has feelings for Kagome (although Kagome does not return his feelings for Koga due to the fact that she's in love with InuYasha) and only cares for him as a friend. 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 screams "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 Koga 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 Koga's affection.

Personality
Ayame admires Koga's strength and courage, but she is strong in her own right. In general her outside personality is that of a determined, cute, spunky, and high strung girl who listens to her elders with great respect. At times she is sensitive and caring even with those who she does not seem to like. For example, at first Ayame does not seem to like Kagome due to the fact that Koga sees her a possible bride to be for him, but later on in the anime she begins to be more friendly towards Kagome and begins to respect, admire, and value her personality and intelligence. An example of this in the anime is after Koga says, "be careful," Ayame replies, "Kagome said that too," with a sad, small smile. This is a sign that she was taking Kagome's words with value and care.

Character development
Ayame is a character that was made specifically for the anime in Ayame is very sweet towards Koga, but bitter towards Kagome (they are supposed to be "rivals").

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 Koga's wolves, from demons. She has a special Leaves & Wind attack along with her two swords that is capable destroying multiple demons. Like other wolf demons, she also uses wolves for her attacks and defense. Ayame appears to have speed and agility nearly on par with Koga's. How she accomplishes these feats without the assistance of jewel shards has never been revealed.

Relationships

 * Koga :Ayame loves Koga due to the incident where Koga saved her and promised to marry her that happen to her when she was young. But since he "fell in love" with Kagome, he has yet to keep his promise to her. It is not clearly known whether Koga does not remember the promise that he made to Ayame or that he is just denying the fact, but in any way Koga cares for Ayame in a friendly way despite his interest for Kagome. But in the end Koga says to Kagome that he has someone he made a promise to and must keep, thus leaving Kagome and going back to Ayame.
 * Kagome :Kagome becomes a bit of a rival for Ayame for Koga's affection in the anime and animanga series. At first Kagome tries to be friendly towards Ayame, but Ayame makes it clear that she does not like her due to the fact that Koga wants Kagome for a bride. Ayame especially does not like Kagome because their names sound similar. At first, she especially 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 and begins to respect and admire Kagome, but never makes it clear to her. Ayame is also aware that Kagome is not in love with Koga. This relationship only happens in the anime and animanga.

Trivia

 * In the anime Ayame only appers in three episodes (83, 84, 102).
 * Ayame is technically not an anime-only character.
 * Ayame also sometimes spelled "Hiame" or "Iame" due to misconceptions. Her name was spelled "Iome" in credits of the English dub.

Voice Actress
She's voiced by Yumi Kakazu in the original Japanese version and by Patricia Acevedo in the Latin American Spanish dub.

Ayame Ayame (InuYasha)