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

Plot
Ayame is a 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 lives with him since her parents died. Later on, her tribe is attacked by zombies, and she and Koga 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, Koga rescued her from being 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).

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 like friends. 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.

Personality
Ayame admires Kōga'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 places a front to those she does not seem to like. For example: Kagome, 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. For example: in the anime Ayame says: One of her quote to Koga when he said "be careful," was:

"Kagome said that too," said with a sad, small smile. As a sign that she was taking Kagome's words with value, and care.

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 or that he does not remember, but in any way Koga cares for Ayame in a friendly way despite his interest for Kagome.


 * 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. Ayame only appears in the anime, however; in the manga, Kagome is the only female interest of Koga's.

Character development
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). The manga is near completion and at this point it is unknown if she will ever make an appearance in the manga series, though Rumiko Takakashi once stated that she does indeed like her.

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 sword that is capable destroying multiple demons. Like other wolf demons, she also uses wolves for her attacks and defense.

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 seen).
 * Ayame also appears as a recurring character in the Inuyasha AniManga.
 * Ayame along with Sango, are known for been paired with Inuyasha as possible love interests by the fandom of the anime and manga series.
 * Ayame also sometimes spelled "Hiame" or "Iame" due to misconceptions.